Powerful gusts of wind wreaked havoc in the Greater Toronto Area on Friday night.

Environment Canada issued a wind warning for parts of southern Ontario, including Toronto, due to strong and gusty winds.

There were widespread reports of damage, downed hydro lines and power outages.

Wind gusts ripped holes in the exterior of a high-rise building on Ellesmere Road in Scarborough, while wind damage was also reported at a strip plaza on Islington Avenue, south of Steeles Avenue, in Etobicoke.

There have also been reports of downed power lines and a blown transformer causing a localized power outage near Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue.

Wind gusts of up to 100 km/h are expected in southern Ontario in the wake of an Arctic cold front, which is bringing this week's spring-like weather to an end.

Motorists outside the GTA should exercise caution because strong and gusty winds will create dangerous driving conditions, Environment Canada says.

A blowing snow warning was issued for Barrie, Orillia and Muskoka. 

Areas along the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay will see lake-effect snow with local accumulations of about 10 centimetres by Saturday morning. Lesser amounts are expected further inland. Motorists should expect low visibility and poor winter driving conditions in those areas.

Meanwhile, Friday's spring-like weather in Toronto set a temperature record for the second day in a row.

Toronto hit 10.8 C, beating the old mark of 10.6 C, set back in 1949.

Thursday's record high was 11.3 degrees.