A Toronto police officer holds traffic back at Cottingham St. to prevent cars from bunching up as they slip and slide their way up Avenue Rd. in Toronto.Fred Lum
The Toronto region will see its first major snowfall of the winter overnight Wednesday, according to a weather alert from Environment Canada.
Snow associated with a low pressure system over New England is spreading snow over Eastern Ontario already. The precipitation is forecast to hit Central Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe this evening and reach the southwest of the province early Thursday morning, the special weather statement says.
Most areas, including Toronto, are expected to get up to 10 centimetres of snow but the weather agency says higher amounts – near 15 centimetres – will be likely along a swath extending from Kingston to the Ottawa area. The snow is forecast to taper off overnight for Eastern Ontario, Thursday morning for the Golden Horseshoe and later Thursday for central and Southwestern Ontario.
A snowfall warning is in effect for border areas in Eastern Ontario, where total snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres are expected by late tonight.
As much as 30 centimetres could fall in the Cornwall area, while 10 to 15 centimetres are possible over the Niagara peninsula as well as near and northeast of Georgian Bay.
The agency says gusty northerly winds accompanying the system could reduce visibility at times with snow and blowing snow.