Heavy snow, strong winds and rain roll into Ontario this week

Keep your winter coats and umbrellas on standby. While Ontario may be warming up, the week ahead brings a mix of sunshine, rain, strong winds and even bursts of snow.

As of Sunday, (April 6) the day will begin with a mix of sun and cloud and breezy conditions, with winds reaching 30 km/h and gusting up to 50. Temperatures will rise to a high of 6 C by the afternoon.

By evening, skies will become partly cloudy and winds will ease to around 15 km/h. Overnight temperatures will fall to –1 C, with wind chills making it feel closer to –3 C.

Monday will begin sunny before increasing cloudiness in the afternoon, followed by showers. Winds will shift throughout the day—starting southeast at 20 km/h gusting to 40 by late morning, then becoming southwest at 30 gusting to 50 in the late afternoon.

The high will reach 8 C, but the morning wind chill will make it feel closer to -5 C.

The UV index will reach a moderate level of 5. Environment Canada advises taking precautions when the index is 3 or higher, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Individuals may want to use sunscreen and wear sunglasses and a hat when heading outdoors.

According to the Weather Network, a low-pressure system is expected to sweep through southern Ontario at some point on Monday, bringing strong winds and brief periods of rain or snow.

While areas farther north may see significant snowfall, cities such as Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton and Durham are expected to avoid the heaviest accumulations. However, winds could reach 70 km/h by evening, potentially causing reduced visibility and travel disruptions.

By evening, there will be some rain that will taper off, leaving behind mostly cloudy skies with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. Winds are expected to strengthen, gusting at 70 km/h. Overnight lows will fall to –4 C, with a wind chill of –11 C.

Tuesday will stay cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. Gusty winds and blowing snow could still affect visibility in some areas, particularly in open spaces or near the lakeshore. By night, skies will clear partially, and the temperature will drop to –7 C, while in some areas, it could slip to –17 C.

Wednesday is going to be a mix of sun and clouds, with daytime highs pushing upward to 4 C. By evening, skies bring chilly lows of -7 C.

Thursday will be mostly cloudy as temperatures reach a mild  5 C. By night, skies will remain cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of either rain or flurries. Evening lows will hold steady around 0 C.

Friday will feature a mix of sun and clouds, with a high of 8 C. Cloudy periods are expected to continue into the night, with lows dipping to -1 C.

Saturday rounds out the week with mainly sunshine and a few cloudy periods. Temperatures are expected to reach 9 C—making it the warmest day of the week. By evening, skies will become partly cloudy as temperatures cool to 1 C.