After a stretch of relatively mild spring weather, Durham Region is bracing for a return to colder conditions on Wednesday, with forecasters calling for a mix of rain, wind, and even flurries in Durham overnight as temperatures dip well below seasonal for late April.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, daytime highs across the GTA will struggle to reach the high single digits, with overnight lows dropping to near freezing in many areas. The cooldown marks a significant departure from the above-seasonal temperatures that have characterized much of April so far this year.
In Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering, the forecast is calling for a high of just 8 degrees Celsius during the day, with overcast skies and scattered showers expected to persist through the afternoon and into the evening. The wind will add to the chill, making it feel several degrees cooler than the actual temperature when factoring in the wind chill effect throughout the day.
Conditions are expected to deteriorate further as the day progresses, with a 30 percent chance of flurries in Durham developing overnight as temperatures fall to around 1 degree. Residents in the more northern areas of Durham, including parts of Uxbridge and Brock Township, may see the flurries in Durham develop earlier in the evening as the cooler air mass settles over the region and temperatures drop more rapidly in those higher elevation areas.
The immediate Lake Ontario shoreline areas will see slightly more moderate conditions, though still considerably cooler than the seasonal average of around 14 degrees for this time of year. Communities in Clarington and eastern Durham may experience a mix of rain and snow pellets during the evening hours before transitioning to flurries in Durham after midnight when the coldest air arrives.
Further south in Durham, including the Pickering and Ajax area, any accumulating snow is considered unlikely given the relatively warm ground temperatures and time of year. However, untreated surfaces could become slippery as temperatures drop below the freezing mark in the pre-dawn hours on Thursday morning, creating potential hazards for early morning commuters on roads throughout the Durham Region area.
Environment Canada is reminding residents that even small accumulations of snow or ice can create hazardous driving conditions, particularly on bridges and overpasses which tend to freeze first before other road surfaces. Motorists should allow extra time for their Wednesday evening commute and ensure their vehicles are equipped with appropriate tires for the changing conditions.
The colder weather is expected to be relatively short-lived, with temperatures predicted to rebound back to seasonal norms by the weekend as a warmer air mass moves in from the southwest. However, the transition period between weather systems means conditions could remain unsettled through Thursday and into Friday morning before the warmer pattern establishes itself across Durham Region.
Those with outdoor plans on Wednesday evening should dress warmly in layers and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions, particularly if attending outdoor events in open areas where the wind will have a greater impact on comfort levels. Indoor plans may be the more comfortable option for those who are temperature-sensitive or planning activities that could be disrupted by rain showers and flurries in Durham expected throughout the evening hours.
