weather toronto

Special weather alert in effect for Toronto as 15 cm of snow could fall by Christmas Day

It's looking more and more like Toronto is going to see a white Christmas after all, and a new special weather statement from Environment Canada suggests the city may receive more than just a light dusting of snow by Dec. 25. 

The federal weather agency issued the updated statement at 4:46 a.m. Thursday morning, and it calls for 10 to 20 mm of rainfall today before possible periods of freezing rain this evening and a whole lot of snow tonight.

"Rain may become heavy at times today before changing to snow early this evening," reads the statement. "A brief period of freezing rain may be possible this evening during the transition."

By mid-evening, Environment Canada says all precipitation will likely have turned to snow, with as much as 10 to 15 cm expected to fall by the middle of the morning Friday.

"Confidence is lower for if and how long freezing rain will occur for, but it is generally not expected to be a major impact for this event," reads the statement. "Confidence is higher that a snowfall of 10 cm will happen tonight."

The weather agency says they'll issue a snowfall warning if totals of 15 cm are more likely than 10 cm, so residents should stay tuned for more updates. 

In the meantime, meteorologists say people in Toronto can expect poor road conditions beginning this evening due to accumulating snow regardless. 

In other words, even the weather conditions will be ideal for you to stay home and celebrate safely this Christmas.

Lead photo by

Patrick Tomasso


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Toronto water taxi options for when you want to get to the Island and back

Ontario's most painful plant uses 'tiny needles' to inject stinging chemicals

A busy street in downtown Toronto is banning cars all summer long

New Toronto park already in such sorry state it's being compared to WW1 battlefield

All the ways Canadians will get more money from the government this summer

Gardiner Expressway traffic in Toronto has surged by up to 250% due to closures

Toronto's new LRT may end up with same issues as other cursed Ontario line

A mural of Harry Styles is being torn down in Toronto to protect public safety