Wintry winds and bitter cold set the tone for Windsor-Essex this week

(Source: Peggianne Wright)

Windsor-Essex is bracing for a sharp return to winter conditions as cold winds, flurries, and plunging temperatures dominate the early-week forecast.

On Monday, the region will face cloudy skies with a chance of flurries and strong winds gusting up to 60 km/h.

The winds woo drive temperatures down to –9 C by the afternoon, with the wind chill near –16.

Conditions stay mainly cloudy into the evening, before skies begin to clear overnight.

The temperature is expected to drop to a frigid –16 C, with the wind chill sliding from –15 in the evening to –24 overnight.

The normal daytime high for this time of year is around 2 C and the low is around -6 C.

Here’s a look at the rest of the forecast

Monday: Cloudy with 40 per cent chance of flurries. Wind north 40 km/h gusting to 60. Temperature falling to minus 9 in the afternoon. Wind chill near minus 16.

Monday Night: Mainly cloudy. Clearing overnight. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light near midnight. Low minus 16. Wind chill minus 15 in the evening and minus 24 overnight.

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with 30 per cent chance of flurries. High minus 1.

Wednesday: Cloudy. High zero.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with 60 per cent chance of rain or snow. High zero.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. High 7.