Londoners will be trading their winter boots for rain boots later this week as a brief mild spell settles into the region bringing wet weather.
Temperatures began to rise across southwestern Ontario late Sunday, ending a nearly two week long cold snap. But even as the sub-zero conditions gave way to more seasonal values, 15 cm of heavy snow fell.
The latest snowfall wrecked havoc on the Monday morning commute, with school bus cancellations, several crashes on Hwy. 401 and 402, and many vehicles stuck on side streets within the city. The winter wallop also led to Meals On Wheels deliveries being cancelled for the day. It is the first time delivery has been canceled in nearly three years.
By Monday afternoon, the London Fire Department began asking Londoners to help them dig out fire hydrants buried by snow. They also urged homeowners to clear outside vents for furnaces, gas fireplaces, hot water heaters, and other fuel burning appliances, noting a failure to do so could be fatal.
“This can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide gas inside the home,” said Assistant Deputy Fire Chief Jack Burt in a release. “Given that you can’t see, smell or taste this highly toxic gas, the possibility of bodily harm or even death is very real.”
Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures to climb to daytime highs not seen since early December.
"We are going to see temperatures milder for where they should be for this time of year, a high of 4 C on Wednesday and a high of 6 C on Thursday," said Environment Canada Meteorologist Geoff Coulson.
Seasonal values for this time of year are around the -2 C mark.
"However with the milder air we are getting into a more active storm track across southwestern Ontario. It looks like some rain activity developing into Wednesday and Thursday and then what could be a notable snowfall event developing for Friday night into Saturday."
At this point, Coulson said it is too early to predict exactly how much snow could fall as a result of the system expected to arrive late Friday.
"There is the potential of a general snowfall again across southwestern Ontario in excess of 15cm with this system. But we will have a better sense of how much it could actually produce a little bit later on this week," said Coulson.
Along with the snow frigid conditions will return over the weekend, with temperatures plunging to -8 C on Saturday and -9 C on Sunday.
