After months of relentless snow, deep freezes, and Arctic blasts, southern Ontario remains gripped by winter.
Toronto recorded 61 cm of snow in a single day-among the highest totals ever in downtown. Pearson Airport saw its snowiest day on record with 46 cm.
Persistent lake-effect snow and repeated cold snaps kept snow on the ground for months. Lake Erie reached nearly 97% ice coverage, altering snow patterns.
Despite early March warmth, meteorologist Anthony Farnell warns winter isn’t over. A major storm is expected to bring up to 50 cm of snow and hazardous travel conditions.
Spring won’t truly arrive until May. A developing El Niño may shift jet streams northward, potentially leading to hotter summers and more thunderstorms. Meanwhile, a heat dome is building in the southwestern U.S.-a sign of future extremes.