LES Potential Feb 1st-Feb 4th

Im liking the Thursday Feb 2nd to Saturday Feb 4th timeframe for some pretty intense squalls. There looks to be ample cold air in place which will allow for some fairly intense bands to develop.

We've seen some bands of heavy flurries develop across most of SW, S, C Ontario Wednesday Feb 1st which has put down 2-10cm in many locations. These bands of flurries will consolidate into more classic snowsqualls as we head towards Thursday and into Friday.

Right now its looking like a WNW to ESE event, at times veering into a more NW flow.

Areas to be on alert for 30cm+

-Midland
-Orillia
-Bracebridge
-Gravenhurst
-Muskoka
-North Simcoe County
-Owen Sound
-Meaford
-Kincardine
-Sauble Beach
-Bruce Peninsula
-Grey County
-Flesherton


 Squalls_Feb_2nd_4th.jpg ( 234.6K ) Number of downloads: 8

Winter Storm January 23rd-26th

I'm creating a thread on this storm, as all the models are showing something for next week. Looks to move into SW Ontario on the 23rd and make its way east, the effects continuing to be felt into the 25th and 26th out east.

Models have been dancing around with tracks, and precipitation types.

Here's the 12z CMC model:

Jan 23rd morning
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Heavy snow in Eastern Ontario by this point moving into Southern QB.
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Here's the 18z GFS run from tonight


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As you can see this run of the GFS isn't as bullish for big snowfall out east, but potential remains.

Mostly rain for Southern Ontario at this point but potential is there for some mixtures especially over higher terrain.

Lake Effect Snow Potential Dec 29th-31st

I am creating this thread to highlight the potential for heavy lake effect squalls, expected to develop Thursday evening and continue into early Saturday. Right now I am looking at a primarily NW event.

Here's my map


 LES_Dec_29_30th.png ( 359.19K ) Number of downloads: 0


Right now it looks like the squalls will begin tomorrow early evening and strengthen overnight tomorrow. The bands will move around through Friday as winds will be oscillating but overall a primary NW flow, at times WNW off Huron and NNW off GB. However NW will be the primary direction.

This will take the heaviest Huron activity north of London in my opinion. I like the Kincardine down to Goderich corridor and in-land from there. Listowel down to Stratford will be dealing with squalls oscillating in and out of the area with areas closer to the lake getting hit hard (Wingham down through Mitchell and Exeter) where I feel 30-40cm is possible. London is a close call, the northeastern part of the city stands a better chance but from what I'm seeing the highest accumulations occur well north of the city. The actual city should not see anything significant.


Off Georgian Bay the highest accumulations will be felt from the Wasaga Beach to Barrie corridor and to the SW of that in areas like Angus, CFB Borden, New Lowell, Essa Township, Baxter, Cookstown/Innisfil, etc. Up to 40cm is possible in this region. Alliston will again be too SW for the heaviest accumulations, but stands a possibility of receiving 6-15cm if the squall can stall over this area. I think you'll see it cream areas just to the north and east, at times affecting the town. The east side of the town will likely fare better.

S. Ontario Multi Day Snowsquall Event November 18th-22nd

Ok guys,

We are entering our second big LES event. I know many areas received heavy snowfall Thursday and Friday of last week, with a swath covering Parry Sound south to Barrie picked up 10-30cm of snow. I apologize I couldn't give any insight on that, as my computer was in getting repaired and it's very hard to give any updates on my phone. More snow is on the way. This thread is for discussion on the LES event beginning Tuesday and continuing into Saturday.

The winds will be changing frequently. The three primary directions will be WNW, W, and WSW. It will also be at times SW and NW. Due the changing directions, I am not expecting any epic accumulations, but I am picking up clues that some of these bands will be VERY heavy, at times delivering up to 10cm an hour to certain locations.

I will be updating this thread frequently this coming week with more details. As for the GTA, I am seeing a band coming off Lake Huron (a unique WNW flow) that could affect the area delivering a dusting to 5-6cm across many areas. There is potential for this band to even give higher amounts should it lock in for a few hours. I will be monitoring this.

Here's a preliminary map I just did up now indicating some accumulations this week. I do think that by Saturday most of Southern Ontario will be white as these bands will be moving around quite a bit.

 Squall_Event_Nov_17th_20th.jpg ( 238.96K ) Number of downloads: 10


Here's a map showing the main bands. Now they of course will not be this wide, however I wanted to show a visual of what will be happening. The areas in the #1 #2 and #3 zone will be seeing the highest chance of seeing accumulating snows as long bands develop, and will oscillate like a windshield wiper across a wide area. Band #3 will move even further south impacting the Kitchener area as well from time to time. So while it's possible one area may only get a few hours of squall activity, accumulations may be 3-5cm PER hour inland at times and even more closer to the lake. So it's extremely hard to pinpoint exact accumulations.

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LES Event Jan 6th-8th

As everybody knows, behind the storm system today and tonight, a powerful WNW flow will form with sustained winds in the 40-50KM/H range and gusts up to 80KM/H. Not only will this put wind chill values in the minus 30's, it will create a heavy amount of LES beginning Monday across Southern Ontario.

These bands of snow will at times travel over 150 to 200KM inland, giving places that are not used of squalls some decent accumulations.

Okay so here's how it goes. Winds will be WNW Monday and very strong. Gusts in the 70-85KM/H range creating blowing snow and blizzard conditions especially in areas that saw the fresh snow fall this weekend. Winds remain WNW into Mon night. By Tuesday, we will see a WNW occasionally shifting into a W flow which will continue right into Wednesday afternoon before a High Pressure from the west moves in and chokes off the squalls.

Because of the long duration of this event, accumulations in the 40-70cm range are very possible with many areas inland receiving 5-15cm Monday and Monday night. This explains why EC has issued Snowsquall watches to many in-land areas. The high wind speed and tight flow will allow multiple bands to form off Huron and GB and extend hundreds of KM inland. So here's how it looks. Remember this DOES NOT include any storm accumulations. That is additional on top of this map.

 Squall_Map_Jan_6th_2014.jpg ( 237.49K ) Number of downloads: 10


London: 4-8cm
Goderich: 15-20cm
Kincardine/Sauble Beach: 50-80cm+
Owen Sound: 40-60cm+
Tobermory: 40-70cm+
Collingwood: 20-35cm
Midland: 50-70cm+
Orillia: 50-70m+
Gravenhurst: 55-80cm+
Bracebridge: 40-60cm+
Parry Sound: 20-30cm
Barrie: 15-25cm (higher as you go north towards Midhurst, Horseshoe Valley)
Alliston: 10-15cm
Shelburne: 15-20cm
Dundalk: 20-30cm
Flesherton: 25-35cm
Orangeville: 8-15cm
Kitchener: 5-10cm
GTA: 2-6cm