Significant snowstorm threatening Windsor-Essex tonight and Friday

A low will track northeast from Texas today then track just south of Lake Erie on Friday. This low is expected to intensify into a winter storm as it approaches Southern Ontario. As such, Environment Canada has issued at Winter Storm Watch for: Windsor - Leamington - Essex County as of 12:11 am this morning.

PHOTO CREDIT - TheWeatherNetwork.com

Windsor - February 7, 2013 - A low will track northeast from Texas today then track just south of Lake Erie on Friday. This low is expected to intensify into a winter storm as it approaches Southern Ontario. Snow ahead of this system will start spreading into Southern Ontario from Michigan and Lake Huron today with perhaps a couple cm of snow by this evening in a swath of regions extending from Lake Huron to Western Lake Ontario.

As the low gets closer, latest indications suggest it will intensify tonight, with an expanding area of heavy snow expected to move into most of southern and parts of Eastern Ontario. Some freezing rain and ice pellets are possible over the extreme southwest. Snow, heavy at times is expected to continue well into Friday as the strong system passes just south of the Great Lakes.

Many parts of Southern and Eastern Ontario may receive 15 cm of snow from this storm by Friday evening. Some areas may receive higher amounts, with 25 cm not out of the question. This will depend on the exact track and intensity of this low, and enhancement in the cold easterly flow off of Lake Ontario for example.

Total snow amounts may be somewhat lower over the extreme southwest due to some freezing rain and ice pellets. Brisk easterly winds will also result in blowing snow in many areas tonight and Friday. Travelling conditions will deteriorate and become hazardous in the snow and blowing snow tonight and Friday.

There may be a significant impact on the commute to work on Friday morning and possibly Friday afternoon in heavy snow and blowing snow. There is still some uncertainty as to the exact track and intensity of the low, which will affect where the heaviest snow falls.

Environment Canada is closely monitoring this situation. The winter storm watch may be expanded further to the northeast as the event draws closer. Warnings may also be issued for many regions as well.

Refer to your local public forecast for further details.