‘Be prepared for some blowing snow’: Bitterly cold wind chills, more snowfall expected on Friday

A second round of light snowfall and bitterly cold wind chills will impact the London region on Friday. CTV's Julie Atchison breaks it down.

As Londoners dig out from the latest blast of winter people should keep their shovels handy, as there is a risk of several more centimeters of snowfall to end the workweek.

According to CTV News London Meteorologist Julie Atchison, lake effect snowfall will ease on Thursday night, but there will be some blowing snow through the late evening.

“The snow that has fallen is extremely powdery, light and fluffy with the colder temperatures and that is whipping across area highways,” Atchison said. “So please be prepared for some blowing snow tonight through the overnight.”

Atchison says that while the winds will start to ease off, some “very cold” Arctic air will envelop the entire Great Lakes basin.

As a result, frigid wind chills are in store for the region, with temperatures expected to drop to between – 17 Thursday evening and – 24 overnight with the wind chill overnight.

The lake effect snow will come to an end overnight with partly cloudy skies in store, but Atchison says the clouds will quickly move back in heading into Friday, as will another round of snow.

The first round of snow will drop a couple of centimeters on the region early in the day after 10 a.m., while a second round of snow will produce an additional two to four centimeters of snow in the evening.

“In total, we could pick up on the high end about eight centimeters and on the low end under five [centimeters],” she said.

Friday’s daytime high will reach – 2 C, feeling like – 18 in the morning and – 11 in the afternoon with the wind chill.

“Widespread snow expected for your Friday. Snowfall will be much less than we experienced through the area today, and as we head through the weekend will be in and out of flurries and blowing snow,” Atchison said.

Road closures

• Highway 401 eastbound is closed between Elgin Road and Putnam Road.
• Elgin OPP have closed Highway 401 westbound at Furnival due to transport truck collision with injuries.
• Highway 402 is closed eastbound at Mandaumin Road to Oil Heritage Road for a jackknifed tractor trailer.
• Highway 401 Westbound lanes closed at Orford Road to Kent Bridge Road.
• Highway 401 EB at Elgin Rd (Dorchester)
• Highway 403 EB at Middle Townline Rd (west of Brantford)
• Grey Bruce Rd. 30: Grey Bruce Rd. 12 and Grey Bruce Rd. 32
• Grey Bruce Rd. 7: Meaford to Kimberly
• Lane reductions Highway 401 westbound at Highway 77 (Comber)

Here’s a look at London’s long-range forecast

Thursday night: Flurries ending late this evening then cloudy. Risk of snow squalls early this evening. Local amount 2 cm. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light late this evening. Low minus 17. Wind chill minus 17 this evening and minus 24 overnight.

Friday: Becoming cloudy in the morning then periods of snow. Amount 2 cm. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 in the morning. High minus 2. Wind chill minus 18 in the morning and minus 11 in the afternoon.

Saturday: Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. High minus 2.

Sunday: Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. High minus 6.

Monday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Windy. High minus 8.

Tuesday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. High minus 11.

Wednesday: Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. High minus 6.