Weather warnings

Now this is getting ridiculous! The red provinces and territories have current weather warnings.

Red means weather warnings

As I listen to the snow hitting the windows and the wind wuthering around the house, I’m glad I don’t have to go anywhere today.

A series of snowstorms is rolling across the northern U.S. and southern Ontario. The rather chatty weather warning called it “snowmageddon” the other day, which I found amusing.

Here’s today’s:

WOCN11 CWTO 191154
Special weather statement
Issued by Environment Canada Ontario region.
6:54 AM EST Friday 19 December 2008.

Special weather statement issued for..
City of Toronto
Windsor - Essex - Chatham-Kent
Sarnia - Lambton
Elgin
London - Middlesex
Simcoe - Delhi - Norfolk
Dunnville - Caledonia - Haldimand
Oxford - Brant
Niagara
City of Hamilton
Halton - Peel
York - Durham
Huron - Perth
Waterloo - Wellington
Dufferin - Innisfil
Grey - Bruce
Barrie - Orillia - Midland
Belleville - Quinte - Northumberland
Kingston - Prince Edward
Peterborough - Kawartha Lakes
Stirling - Tweed - South Frontenac
Bancroft - Bon Echo Park
Brockville - Leeds and Grenville
City of Ottawa
Gatineau
Prescott and Russell
Cornwall - Morrisburg
Smiths Falls - Lanark - Sharbot Lake
Parry Sound - Muskoka
Haliburton
Renfrew - Pembroke - Barry's Bay
Algonquin
Burk's Falls - Bayfield Inlet.

..Dreams of a white Christmas becoming reality..

The second in a series of snowstorms is coming in right on target
towards southern Ontario today. The Colorado low was born as
Expected and is now making a bee line northeast and will move across
Ohio today into Pennsylvania tonight. Heavy snow has arrived into
southwestern Ontario with Windsor airport already reporting 3 cm in
under an hour along with visibility of only a couple hundred metres
in heavy snow.  The snow will reach across the greater Toronto area
during the morning rush hour and on into eastern Ontario by noon.
Most of eastern Ontario into ski country will be near the northern
Fringe of this storm..With snowfall amounts of 10 centimetres or
Less on tap.

This storm has spawned winter storm warnings for heavy snow and
blowing snow from Wingham to Peterborough to Kingston and south.
Travellers should note that winter storm warnings are also in effect
for large parts of the neighbouring states of Michigan and New York.

Another potentially significant storm also emerging from Colorado
will come quick on the heels of todays storm. It will affect a
Much broader area including ski country and all of eastern Ontario
including Ottawa. Snow and blowing snow will arrive Saturday
Night from the southwest to the Golden Horseshoe and north to
Georgian Bay. Snow will rapidly spread east across all of eastern
Ontario including Ottawa Sunday morning. It will ease off somewhat
during the day Sunday in southwestern sections but should
Continue Sunday night over eastern Ontario. Total accumulations of
10 to 20 centimetres are quite possible in many regions.

 Travel may be particularly difficult once again due to strong
easterlies and blowing snow which will swing into the northwesterly
direction later in the day. Lake-effect flurries and snow squalls
may develop late Sunday enhancing snow amounts in ski country.

Yet another round of snow from what seems to be becoming a long
parade of Colorado lows is likely Tuesday night into Christmas eve.
Current indications suggest it may bring another significant
Snowfall to southern Ontario Christmas eve..Ensuring that Christmas
day will be white.

The cumulative effects of these storms during the pre-Christmas
travel week can have significant impacts on travel. Fresh additional
snowfall amounts of 50 cm are quite possible in some areas by
Wednesday.

Folks are strongly urged to adjust travel plans accordingly if
possible and stay tuned to Environment Canada for further weather
updates.

Listen for further statements. Additional information
may also be found by consulting the latest public forecast.
The next public forecast will be issued by 11 AM.

END/OSPC

So far there there has been one 15-car pileup on Highway 400, a northbound highway out of Toronto that is notorious for its whiteouts, when snow blows across so thickly that drivers can’t see what’s ahead of them.