Snow squall warning re-issued for Toronto and surrounding area

A snow squall warning has been re-issued for Toronto, along with several parts of the Greater Toronto Area, with snowfall expected overnight.

Just before 9:30 p.m., Environment Canada said visibility in the city would be “significantly reduced” in heavy and blowing snow.

“(It) will be the primary concern as opposed to snowfall accumulation as snow squalls are expected to shift through the area rather quickly,” the national weather agency said, noting travel will “likely be hazardous.”

“Visibility will likely be suddenly reduced to near zero at times. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.”

Five centimetres of snow is expected to come this evening and possibly into the overnight in Toronto as well as Burlington-Oakville, Caledon, Halton Hills-Milton, Mississauga-Brampton, Newmarket-Georgina-Northern York Region, Niagara Falls-Welland-Southern Niagara Region, Uxbridge-Beaverton-Northern Durham Region, and Vaughan-Richmond Hill-Markham.

Caledon is also under a yellow advisory for blowing snow, which could also result in significantly reduced visibility at times in blowing snow, westerly winds gusting up to 70 km/h, and wind chills between -20 C and - 25 C.

On Monday, Environment Canada advised of “brief but intense” periods of snowfall in the afternoon and evening in Toronto and surrounding communities.

The agency also warned of significantly reduced visibility and hazardous travel.

An orange alert - snow squall warning was also issued earlier today for parts of Niagara Region, including Welland, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, and Niagara Falls.

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Ontario Provincial Police previously said whiteout conditions were reported in the region on Monday morning.

Bitterly cold temperatures arrive in Toronto

While it appears Toronto will be spared from heavy snowfall, brutally cold temperatures are expected this week.

A cold snap begins Monday, which will see a high of -6 C, feeling closer to -17 with the wind chill. The mercury will plunge to -15 C overnight Monday, feeling closer to -25 with the wind chill.

Even more frigid weather is in the forecast on Tuesday. The city will see a high of -9 C but wind chill values will make it feel like -26 in the morning and -19 in the afternoon.

The temperature will drop to a low of -13 C on Tuesday night.

Wednesday will bring a brief reprieve of the freezing conditions, with the national weather agency calling for a high of 0 C.

But bitterly cold weather will creep back in on Thursday.

Toronto is expected to see a high of -4 C on Thursday, -7 C on Friday, -8 C on Saturday, and -10 C on Sunday.

Given the frigid forecast, the City of Toronto opened additional warming centres at 5 p.m. at the Cecil Community Centre, at 58 Cecil St., and at the Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, at 870 Queen St. E.