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Major winter storm hits southern Ontario, causes blizzard conditions and power outages, Canada

ByTeo Blašković
Major winter storm hits southern Ontario, causes blizzard conditions and power outages, Canada

Image credit: odawg (stillshot)

A severe winter storm, characterized by heavy snowfall and strong wind gusts exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph) in some areas, swept through southern Ontario on Friday, January 12, 2024. The storm led to widespread power outages, with over 30 000 reported by Hydro One. Additionally, the storm caused significant disruptions at Toronto-Pearson International Airport, leading to numerous flight cancellations and delays.

On Friday, January 12, southern Ontario was hit by a major winter storm that brought heavy snow and strong winds, causing blizzard conditions in several areas and significantly reducing visibility. The storm, which battered the Great Lakes region, was particularly intense due to the combination of a rapidly strengthening low-pressure system and winds blowing off the lake.

This created an unstable atmosphere conducive to thundersnow, a rare phenomenon marked by lightning and thunder accompanying the snowfall.

“You know we’re dealing with a formidable winter storm when the term ‘thundersnow’ pops up,” The Weather Network meteorologists said.

“A strong low-pressure system lumbering across the Great Lakes is responsible for this latest bout of foul weather. Folks across the province should take this storm seriously and avoid travel if possible.”

The storm’s impact was felt across the region, with travel becoming nearly impossible at times due to the heavy snowfall and wicked wind gusts ranging between 50 km/h (31 mph) and more than 80 km/h (50 mph) in some places. These conditions resulted in near-whiteout situations, severely hampering road and air travel.

One of the most significant consequences of the storm was the widespread power outages it caused. Hydro One reported more than 30 v000 outages at the height of the storm, affecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

The storm also had a major impact on air travel, particularly at Toronto-Pearson International Airport, where dozens of scheduled arrivals and departures were delayed or canceled through Saturday morning, January 13. The airport authorities and airlines advised passengers to check for the latest updates, as the storm continued to affect the region.

Snowfall is expected to continue spreading across southern Ontario through the overnight hours, reaching Ottawa and creating hazardous conditions into early Saturday morning, January 13.

Rapid bursts of heavy snow are anticipated, making vigilance essential for those traveling during the storm. Blizzard conditions are likely north of the 401 highway, with the potential for widespread whiteout conditions across the region. Snowfall rates may reach 3 – 5+ cm (1.2 – 2 inches) per hour, leading to rapid accumulation of wet snow.

Following the storm, a surge of cold air will intensify lake-effect snow across southern Ontario. This weather pattern is set to create a multi-day lake-effect snow event, particularly affecting traditional snowbelt regions and potentially adding to the existing snow totals from Friday’s storm.

By late Saturday, northwesterly winds are forecasted to produce bands of snow along areas including Saugeen Shores, Wasaga Beach, Barrie, and surrounding regions.

As the weekend progresses, winds are expected to shift from the west, leading into Sunday and Monday. This change in wind direction will cause lake-effect snow to accumulate significantly on the Bruce Peninsula and in communities east of Georgian Bay, such as Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst.

References:

1 PHOTOS: Storm brings blizzard-like conditions, thundersnow to Ontario – The Weather Network – January 13, 2024

2 Conditions worsening in Ontario as heavy snow, high winds spread – The Weather Network – January 13, 2024

Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.

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