Gusty Ontario snow squalls may make for tough long-weekend travel

The burst of snow that blanketed roads across southern Ontario on Thursday was a taste of what many folks across the region may have to contend with heading into our Family Day weekend.

Gusty winds and chilly temperatures will create ideal conditions for lake-effect snow across the snowbelt communities downwind from Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

While more snow is excellent news for ski resorts that haven’t seen much winter this winter, it’ll make for dangerous travel at times over the next couple of days.

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Active weather continues churning in the skies over southern Ontario as another disturbance on the eastern Prairies is on track to swoop across the Great Lakes.

Blustery northwest winds will dominate the region beginning Friday and lasting through Sunday. Chilly temperatures pouring in from northern Ontario will keep conditions firmly below freezing across southern Ontario through the weekend.

Given that the Great Lakes are virtually ice-free—just 4 percent coverage, an unprecedented low for this time of year—the combination of stiff winds and chilly temperatures will create ideal conditions for lake-effect snow as we begin the weekend.

Expect northwesterly winds to pick up across southern Ontario heading into the day Friday, with lake-effect snow squalls building downwind of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay through the morning hours.

Periods of lake-effect snow will continue through Saturday before more widespread snow arrives in southern Ontario for the day Sunday.

Gusts of 40-60 km/h are expected across the region through Friday and Saturday, with stronger gusts of 50-70 km/h on tap for our Sunday.

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Forecasters expect snowfall totals through Saturday amounting to about 5-10 cm downwind from the lakes, including Goderich, Stratford, and Orangeville. Folks in and around the Greater Toronto Area could see a dusting from this event, with less than 5 cm for the northern GTA and less than 2 cm from Toronto proper south.

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Greater totals are likely where the heavier and more persistent squalls set up. Widespread totals of 10-15 cm are on tap for Kincardine, Collingwood, and Barrie, with a swath of 15-25 cm possible in and around Port Elgin.

The combination of snowfall and gusty winds will significantly reduce visibility, leading to periods of hazardous travel through the weekend. Conditions can change rapidly over short distances around snow squalls, with calm conditions giving way to heavy snow and dangerously low visibility in a matter of metres.

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Monday will feature the calmest weather and best driving conditions of the weekend as our winds slacken off and the skies begin to clear out. Don’t forget the sunglasses before you head out Monday—the sun will be mighty bright reflecting off that freshly fallen snow.

Temperatures will remain consistently below freezing through the long weekend, which is favourable both for ski resorts to keep the snow that’s fallen and for making additional snow to coat the slopes.

Additional snow is excellent news for Ontario ski resorts that have been hurting for wintry weather so far this season. We’ve seen persistent stretches of above-seasonal temperatures and paltry snow totals thanks in part to El Niño dominating this season's patterns.

Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on your forecast through the holiday weekend.

WATCH: Snowy scenes around the GTA as a winter blast hits southern Ontario

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