The Greater Toronto Area was greeted with a blast of winter on Tuesday morning as flurries, icy roads, and biting winds created hazardous driving conditions across the city. A weather advisory issued by Environment Canada warned of poor visibility and slippery surfaces during the morning commute, contributing to a series of collisions on major roadways including the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway.
The advisory has since been lifted, and conditions are expected to improve gradually throughout the day. Still, it remains a chilly one, with a daytime high near 0°C and wind chill values making it feel closer to -14°C. Temperatures are expected to stay below freezing until about 4 p.m., thanks to a mass of Arctic air sweeping across southern Ontario.
Gusty northwesterly winds—reaching up to 60 km/h—have been driving the cold air into the region, marking one of the coldest April days Toronto has seen in years. However, relief is in sight, as a steady warming trend is expected to take hold later this week.
Wednesday will bring overcast skies with a more tolerable high of 5°C and a low of -2°C at night. Thursday may see a mix of rain and flurries with a high of 3°C and a nighttime low of 2°C. Conditions will begin to brighten by Friday, which will remain cloudy with a high of 7°C and an overnight low of 2°C.
The weekend is shaping up to feel more like spring, with Saturday and Sunday expected to bring a mix of sun and cloud. Saturday will reach a high of 9°C, while Sunday could climb as high as 12°C, offering Torontonians a welcome return to milder weather after a brief wintry setback.
Originally published on Weekly Voice