Special weather statement issued for Toronto ahead of 'sharp' temperature drop
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the City of Toronto ahead of a “sharp” drop in temperature Wednesday afternoon.
The national weather agency says the city could see record-breaking warmth earlier in the day on Wednesday with a high of 13 C in the forecast that could reach 16.2 C, breaking the record of warm weather for this day since 2018.
But the mild weather will quickly be replaced by frigid temperatures when a “strong cold front” tracks through the southern part of the province this afternoon, causing temperatures to “drop dramatically.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Speaking with CP24, Environment Canada meteorologist Jeff Coulson said that despite the “very, very warm temperatures” for this time of year, a cold front is on Toronto’s doorstep.
“We’ve gone from spring-like weather with showers and thunderstorm activity yesterday and overnight last night, temperatures very, very mild for this time of year and yet we’re expecting a pretty dramatic shift in temperature in the coming hours,” said Coulson. He noted that yesterday’s storm brought as much as to 25 millimetres of rain and pea-sized hail to areas of the GTA.
“This cold front is on Toronto’s doorstep as we speak, it’s already gone through areas like Sarnia and Windsor. We’ve seen temperatures drop by like 10 degrees an hour as the front goes through so that’s what’s in store for Toronto around the lunch hour into early afternoon.”
The cold front also comes with the development of “strong northwesterly winds,” bringing gusts of up to 80 km/h for much of the afternoon and evening.
In a post to X, just after 1 p.m., Toronto Hydro says that it’s responding to “scattered outages across the city due to the windy conditions this afternoon.”
According to the power outage map, there are between 50-5,000 affected customers primarily in the Etobicoke and Toronto Junction areas.
Coulson says that the drop in temperature, gusts of winds and potential flurries will likely last during the rush hour.
“Winds are expected to ease tonight. The sudden temperature drop may lead to icy surfaces as temperatures fall below the freezing mark through the day,” Environment Canada said in its weather advisory.
“Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.”
The burst of cold weather will be short-lived.
Although Thursday will begin with wind chill values approaching -12 in the morning, the temperature will warm up to a high of 0C later in the day.
Toronto will see above seasonal temperatures return late this week, with a high of 5 C expected on Friday and 8 C on Saturday.
Double digit daytime highs are in the forecast for Toronto on Sunday and Monday, as temperatures climb to 11 C and 12 C on each day respectively.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976654.1721864632!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches southern outskirts of townsite
One of two wildfires threatening the townsite in Jasper National Park has reached the southern outskirts of the Alberta Rockies community.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden says he ended re-election bid to unite party
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.
Wildfire north of Calgary prompts evacuation alert, highway closures
A wildfire is prompting evacuations and highway closures north of Calgary.