A week after Toronto was under an extreme cold weather alert, a stalled warm front and low-pressure system are bringing spring-like weather to the region in late January, including a risk of thunderstorms.

But don’t expect much sunshine.

For the next two days, the weather in the GTA will be gloomy, with periods of rain and cloud cover, despite near-record temperatures.

As of 9:30 a.m., freezing rain warnings are in effect for Caledon, Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, northern York Region and Durham Region. The warning is also in effect further north and east of the GTA. Motorists should be prepared for hazardous driving conditions.

Dense fog blanketed the region Tuesday morning, reducing visibility to near zero at times. Tuesday’s high will be 6 C, and there is a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.

The temperature is expected to rise to 10 C by Wednesday morning before reaching a high of 13 C, a mark that would set a record high for Jan. 30.

The rain will persist Wednesday, and Environment Canada said there is a chance that rainfall warnings will be issued for parts of southern Ontario. Up to 15 millimetres of rain is possible by then.

Because of the rainfall and melting snow, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is urging people to stay away from the banks of rivers and streams due to potentially dangerous conditions.

Water levels will be higher than normal over the next two days, the agency said.

School bus cancellations

Because of the weather and icy road conditions Tuesday, some school boards cancelled school buses for the day.

Here is a list of school bus cancellations:

  • All buses to Peterborough, Northumberland and Campbellford
  • All buses in the city of Kawartha Lakes for Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
  • Buses to St. John's (Kirkfield), St. Mary's, St. Dominic, St. Luke's and Pope John Paul elementary schools, and St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Kawartha Lakes.
  • All buses to schools in Muskoka for Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
  • All buses to St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School, Monsignor Michael O'Leary and Saint Mary Catholic elementary Schools.
  • All buses to schools in Haliburton for Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
  • Nipissing and Parry Sound

For updates on exam schedules, students are asked to contact their local school or school board.

After Wednesday, a cold front will nudge the warm front out of the province and bring a return of seasonal weather, including daytime highs between -3 C and -6 C from Thursday to Sunday.

@ChrisKitching is on Twitter. For instant breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.