Rare thundersnow and significant snowfall blanketed parts of Southern Ontario as a sharp arctic cold front moved across the region. Meteorologists explained the phenomenon and provided details about the snowfall amounts.
While some Ontarians braced for the usual winter weather early Tuesday morning, others reported experiencing something rather unusual. Global News meteorologist Ross Hull confirmed the occurrence of rare thundersnow as a sharp arctic cold front swept across southern Ontario Monday night into Tuesday morning. Hull explained that the same mechanism responsible for thunder and lightning in summer thunderstorms along cold fronts was at play.
A sharp contrast in temperature causes air pockets to rapidly ascend into the atmosphere. This rapid ascent creates a charge imbalance within the updraft of the cloud. To restore balance, a lightning strike occurs. While some parts of the province witnessed lightning, other areas were inundated with heavy snowfall. Lisa Chadwick, owner of the Beachside Patio Bar & Bakery in Sauble Beach, told Global News that her area received a significant 30 cm of snow over a 24-hour period. She shared a photo on social media showcasing the well-known Sauble Beach sign, where snowdrifts reached up to a nearby stop sign. As many Ontarians spent Tuesday morning clearing snow, more winter weather was on the horizon. Hull predicted that another clipper system moving in later Tuesday afternoon and evening would bring additional snow to southern Ontario. He estimated around 5 cm of snowfall for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), with heavier accumulations east of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, where lake enhancement effects would be in play
THUNDERSNOW SNOWFALL SOUTHERN ONTARIO WEATHER CLIMATE
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