Jack Frost could be nipping at our noses for a portion of the holidays.
The Weather Network has released its forecast for the Christmas holidays and the first half of winter 2018, and meteorologist Doug Gillham says there is potential for some cold, harsh conditions across southwestern Ontario. He says those planning to celebrate on New Year's Eve should be ready to dress for the conditions.
"We are at the beginning of an extended period of winter weather that will be severe at times," says Gillham. "The period between Boxing Day and through New Year's, temperatures will be running well below seasonal."
However, Gillham says there shouldn't be a repeat of the "polar vortexes" of 2014 and 2015, as the long-range forecast calls for those arctic conditions to give way to a typical January thaw.
"We do think as we head into mid-January the pattern will relax for awhile," says Gillham. "It certainly won't be the end of winter, but I don't know if the second half of the winter will have anything quite as severe as what we'll have in store over the next two to three weeks."
Gillham says, however, that southwestern Ontario has a chance of seeing a white Christmas, with a chance of snow beginning Christmas Eve Sunday.
"The snow cover will be especially thin, in southernmost areas," says Gillham. "But, several centimetres late Sunday and through Sunday night? Excellent timing."
As of Friday, the forecast as of Thursday night for Windsor, Chatham-Kent, and London calls for a 40% chance of flurries for Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. Temperatures are expected to reach highs of -7 C Monday and -8C on Boxing Day.
