4:05 PM EST Saturday 19 November 2016
Snow squall watch in effect for:
Listowel – Milverton – Northern Perth County
Stratford – Mitchell – Southern Perth County
Wingham – Blyth – Northern Huron County
Snow squalls are expected to develop. Under the snow squall bands, visibilities will be significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate.
Lake effect snow likely beginning tonight and continuing Sunday.
After the record setting warm spell of the past couple of days, a significant change in the weather is expected as much colder Arctic air blasts over the mild waters of the Great Lakes tonight and Sunday. As a result, conditions will quickly become favourable for snow squalls to develop tonight and continue through Sunday.
Local snowfall amounts in the heaviest snow squalls of 10 to 20 cm are expected overnight and Sunday. In addition, strong and gusty northwest winds will whip up freshly fallen snow, resulting in sudden very low to at times nil visibility in blowing snow.
Latest indications suggest that snow squalls will continue through Sunday night before slowly weakening to flurries Monday.
Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Snow squall watches are issued when conditions are favourable for the formation of bands of snow that could produce intense accumulating snow or near zero visibilities.
