Most of Midwestern Ontario is set for an unusually warm and wet end to 2024, as a major weather system moves across the region this weekend.
An active storm track will bring two waves of warm weather and significant rain, melting much of the remaining snow in southern Ontario. Temperatures are expected to soar 5 to 20 degrees above seasonal norms, with some areas likely reaching double digits.
Some freezing rain could be on the way in northern Grey and Bruce counties, but for Huron, Perth and Northern Wellington, rain will dominate. By Sunday, a second system will bring more moisture, with the area potentially receiving 30-40 mm of rainfall by Monday.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has issued a Watershed Conditions Statement for water safety, warning residents of increased risks near waterways and reporting that snowmelt, combined with 25-35 mm of rain, will elevate water levels and flows across the Grand River watershed. While significant flooding is not expected, localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
This warm spell continues a trend for most of southern Ontario, where the week between Christmas and New Year’s has stayed below freezing only once in the past 20 years.
The GRCA’s water safety statement remains in effect until Thursday, January 2, 2025, and residents are encouraged to monitor updates on the GRCA website. The public is urged to stay away from waterways, as riverbanks will be slippery and ice cover will weaken. With the winter holiday break underway, parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from watercourses.