Severe Lake-Effect Snow Set to Hit: Up to 30 cm Predicted

A significant lake-effect snow event is on the horizon, prompting officials to alert residents of rapidly worsening conditions beginning late Wednesday.

A yellow weather alert has been activated as snow squalls originating from Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are anticipated to intensify Wednesday night and persist into Thursday afternoon. Local snowfall totals could hit between 15 and 30 cm, accompanied by severely reduced visibility due to heavy snowfall and gusty winds.

Northwesterly gusts are predicted to reach 50 to 60 km/h, exacerbating blowing snow and leading to dangerous travel scenarios. Although conditions are likely to improve after Thursday evening, forecasters caution that the exact locations of the most intense snow accumulations remain uncertain.

Motorists are urged to stay prepared for sudden weather changes, with visibility potentially dropping to near-zero and possible road closures looming.

This advisory follows a significant early-season snowstorm that delivered 43 cm of snow to Barrie just days ago.

Additionally, a new colour-coded alert system has been instituted: yellow alerts for hazardous conditions, orange for possible severe weather, and red for critical conditions threatening safety, property, and health.