Toronto is currently experiencing round one of a punishing double dose of winter, and this weekend is set to be one of the city’s most intense deep freezes in years.
According to The Weather Network, a fast-moving Alberta clipper is currently moving through the GTA, turning Wednesday’s commute into a slippery mess. Environment Canada has also issued a yellow snowfall warning for the city, with 5–10 cm of accumulation expected to blanket the streets by this evening.
With wind gusts of up to 60 km/h, reduced visibility is a risk with the chance of whiteouts. While downtown may see the lower end of those totals, eastern suburbs like Scarborough and Pickering are braced for a heavier dusting.
Once the snow tapers off on Wednesday night, the city will be hit with the arrival of a dangerous polar vortex. This blast of Arctic air is expected to settle over the region late this week, bringing a descent into some of the coldest temperatures Toronto has seen in nearly a decade.
By Thursday, the daytime high of -4 C will feel like -12 C with the wind chill, but overnight will plunge to -12 C and feel like -20. The worst of it arrives Friday, with a daytime high of -12 C and a wind chill of -19 C, but by Friday night, will feel like -30 C.
Saturday is forecast to reach a daytime high of around -15 C, though it will feel closer to -21 C. Temperatures will drop further in the evening, falling to about -18 C with wind chills making it feel as cold as -27 C. On Sunday, conditions remain frigid, with an afternoon high near -12 C and a morning low around -17 C.
Some modest relief is expected by Monday, when highs may climb to -10 C and lows hover near -14 C. Even so, wind chills will keep it feeling between -21 C and -16 C throughout the day. If the mercury hits -24°C this weekend, it will officially mark the city’s coldest temperature since 2016.
The winter woes may not end with the cold. Forecasters are keeping a close eye on a major U.S. storm tracking up the East Coast. While there is still high uncertainty, the northern edge of this system could brush southern Ontario on Sunday, potentially bringing another significant round of 10–20 cm of snow.
In response, the city has opened additional warming centres to support vulnerable residents during this extended cold snap. Residents are encouraged to dress in multiple layers, keep pets indoors, and check on elderly neighbours as we prepare for a bitterly cold week.