Severe weather warnings were in effect for parts of southern Ontario on Friday, one day after heavy snow squalls and strong winds created hazardous travel conditions and left thousands of customers without power.
Though electricity was restored to nearly all customers by midday on Friday and no major accidents were reported, more heavily localized bands of squalls were expected to form, with up to two feet of snow possible in some areas, according to Canada’s forecast agency.
Some of the places between Georgian Bay, the northeastern arm of Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario where the snow activity will be most active include Burlington, Cobourg, Hamilton, Kitchener and Oakville.
The squalls will most likely last until Saturday morning, particularly near Lake Huron. Strong winds and blowing snow could reduce visibility to near zero, Environment Canada, the forecast agency, said.
The lake-effect snow should decrease in intensity on Friday night or Saturday morning, it said. Still, officials in Ontario warned of possible road closures, and urged that nonessential travel and outdoor activities be avoided.
The same weather system is driving heavy lake-effect snow in the United States, east of the Great Lakes.
The National Weather Service said one to two feet of snow could accumulate through Friday evening to areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as Lake Superior across the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
In Canada, Toronto is expected to emerge largely unscathed, with only possible flurries in the forecast. It will be cold, however, with wind chills below freezing through Friday night.
Forecasters in Ontario are also tracking another storm system, which could arrive as early as Saturday night into Sunday morning. That could bring a couple of inches of snow to the province and communities already affected by the squalls.
Adeel Hassan, a New York-based reporter for The Times, covers breaking news and other topics.
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