4:45 AM EST Friday 23 December 2016
Special weather statement in effect for:
Goderich – Bluewater – Southern Huron County
Listowel – Milverton – Northern Perth County
Stratford – Mitchell – Southern Perth County
Wingham – Blyth – Northern Huron County
Not much snow or cold weather in the Christmas stocking for this year. Stormy and very mild on Boxing Day.
Mother Nature seems to be at odds with Santa and Old Man Winter this holiday season, as generally mild air is expected to prevail for most regions over the holidays.
For travellers over the coming days, two main weather systems are expected. The first is tonight into early Saturday when a fairly moist disturbance from southern California will race towards Southern Ontario. A few hours of snow will likely leave a blanket of fresh snow for many parts of Southern Ontario by Saturday morning, with 5 to possibly 10 centimetres over the higher terrain of the Dundalk Highlands, and less elsewhere. It should help whiten the Christmas landscape for jolly Old Saint Nick and his furry travelling companions on Christmas Eve.
While Christmas Day will be quiet weather-wise, a Colorado storm is forecast to head towards Northern Ontario for Boxing Day. This will bring rain and near record mild temperatures Monday. It will likely start as some freezing rain for areas well north of Lake Ontario into Central Ontario as well as Eastern Ontario. Freezing rain warnings may be required as the event approaches.
On behalf of the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre, have a safe and happy holiday.