Southern Ontario is forecast to get freezing rain and temperatures near 20 C this week

The icy conditions could impact your commutes.

ttc streetcar and people crossing street in toronto at sunset after rainfall

Toronto street after rainfall.

Senior Writer

It's forecast that Ontario's weather will include freezing rain this week.

But then spring-like conditions are expected, with rain, thunder and temperatures close to 20 C!

The Weather Network said that as temperatures rise across southern Ontario, so does the threat for "impactful" rain freezing rain.

Rain showers will start early on Thursday, March 5, and become more widespread in the southwest and toward the GTA through the afternoon and evening hours.

Also, in the afternoon, high pressure from the north is expected to push down into southern Ontario. It will cool surface temperatures and increase the threat of freezing rain on Thursday evening and overnight into Friday, March 6.

The Weather Network is still uncertain about whether freezing rain will come down all over southern Ontario.

But freezing rain is possible in places like Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Guelph, Orangeville, Markham, Vaughan, Barrie, Oshawa, Peterborough and Cobourg.

Places north of Lake Ontario, including Belleville and Kingston, are more likely to see heavier freezing rain.

The Weather Network said the freezing rain could continue into Friday, and lingering overnight fog could impact morning commutes.

Then, a Colorado low is forecast to move into the province from the southwest on Friday, bringing mild air and widespread rain to the region.

The heaviest rain will come down along the shores of Lake Erie, with up to 30 millimetres possible in those parts of Ontario.

Between five and 15 millimetres are expected in places north of Lake Ontario, and between 10 and 20 millimetres in Toronto, the western parts of the GTA, Hamilton, London and the surrounding areas.

Parts of southwestern Ontario, including Windsor, could even get thunderstorms on Friday.

Temperatures will warm up throughout the day on Friday and continue to rise on Saturday, March 7. Windsor might reach 20 C this weekend!

It's forecast to be 15 C in Toronto, 16 C in London, 14 C in Barrie, 15 C in Niagara Falls, 11 C in Kingston, 13 C in Cornwall and 11 C in Ottawa on Saturday.

Then, mild weather will continue on Sunday and extend into Tuesday across central and southern Ontario.

READ NEXT: A new Ontario spring forecast says it'll be a 'slow start' with snow, ice and cold temps

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.

  • Senior Writer

    Lisa Belmonte (she/her) is a Senior Writer with Narcity Media. After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), she joined the Narcity team. Lisa covers news and notices from across the country from a Canada-wide perspective. Her early coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic earned Narcity its first-ever national journalism award nomination.

This weather system will bring up to 25 cm of snow to southern Ontario in the next few days

Lake-effect snow, freezing temperatures, and strong winds are forecast.

A burst of snow will bring up to 20 cm to Ontario this week before the cold snap ends

Temperatures will warm up but still be cold enough for "lingering" snow.

An atmospheric river is blasting BC with snow, wind & up to 250 mm of rain

Flood watches and weather warnings are in place for much of Vancouver Island and the central coast.

I tested out the most Canadian chips and ranked them from best to worst

It's time to settle the dispute, once and for all.

The new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit is paying out soon and you can get up to $717

This is a one-time top-up before it replaces the GST/HST credit.