As the dust begins to settle after a historic storm that dumped record snowfall across the Greater Toronto Area, forecasters are warning that Ontario should brace for more weeks of snow. This comes after schools, universities, and certain bus routes were forced to close due to the severe weather conditions. Despite the storm having passed, it seems the extreme winter weather is far from over.
Record-Breaking Snowfall in Ontario
Environment Canada reported that a whopping 23 centimetres of snow had accumulated at Pearson Airport by Thursday 8 p.m., marking the highest snowfall total for January 15th in recorded history. The previous record, set in 1863, saw a comparatively modest 15.2 centimetres. However, weather models suggest that southern Ontario could potentially see even more snow before the end of the month.
Forecast Models Predict More Snow
There is a significant discrepancy between the American GFS (Global Forecast System) model and the European ECMWG (European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast) model. The GFS model, which is widely used in North America, predicts a more moderate precipitation scenario for the rest of the month. In contrast, the ECMWF model, which is often considered more accurate albeit costlier, projects a much snowier outcome.
More Snowfall Predicted in Southern Ontario
According to the European model, parts of southern Ontario could see anywhere from 19.2 to 37.6 inches of total snowfall by January 30th. This is a significant increase from a previous model which estimated that large parts of the province could see totals of up to 50 to 100 cm by January 25th.
Contrasting Predictions from American Models
The American Old Farmer’s Almanac, on the other hand, predicts that total precipitation in southern Ontario for January will reach 40 mm, 25 mm below average. However, the same forecast predicts a wetter-than-average February, with precipitation totals of 75 mm, 20 mm above average.
More Snowfall Expected Soon
The next round of snowfall is expected to arrive as early as Friday night. Environment Canada predicts that snowfall totals on Friday afternoon will be around two centimetres, followed by another two to four centimetres on Friday night. Despite the impending snow, temperatures are expected to ease up by Saturday afternoon, with a high of 2 degrees Celsius and sunny breaks predicted.
All these forecasts point towards a potentially snowy end to January, making it crucial for Ontario residents to stay prepared for more bouts of extreme winter weather.
