The recent cold temperatures, ironically, are moderating with the official arrival of winter at 5:44am Wednesday.
The mercury is expected to be near or above the freezing mark Thursday through Boxing Day with Environment Canada forecasting a high of 8C (46 F) on December 26.
Meteorologist Geoff Coulson says things are shaping up pretty well for holiday travellers, at least in southwestern Ontario.
"We do have a couple of shots of lighter snow to deal with over the course of the next few days but we're not expecting any serious accumulations," says Coulson. "A real big weather-maker potential is Christmas night or more into Boxing Day, but it's going to be a rain event given the temperatures that we have forecast."
Coulson says the snow on the ground will likely stay for a white Christmas in Sarnia-Lambton Sunday.
"Certainly there is going to be some sunshine in the forecast over the coming days and temperatures getting a little bit over the freezing mark but we are going to drop down to below freezing overnight and that should help to retain it," he says,=.
Coulson says forecast models suggest seasonal or a little milder than seasonal temperatures this winter.
