Saturday was a tale of two seasons in Ontario as warmth met cold air
An extreme temperature gradient rocked parts of Ontario on Saturday, with a fine line of warmth and cold brought on by a collision of mild air from the south and entrenched Arctic air to the north.
Southern Ontario was split between two seasons on Saturday as temperatures spanned an astonishing nearly 25°C across the region.
Spring-like warmth surged into parts of the Niagara Peninsula, where Vineland topped out at 15°C, while winter cold and freezing rain gripped eastern Ontario, with Ottawa shivering at -8.3°C.
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This stark divide was fuelled by the collision of warmer air from the south and entrenched Arctic air to the north.
A surge of southerly winds propelled temperatures well above seasonal norms in southern areas. At the same time, northern and eastern regions remained locked under a dense, cold air mass, compliments of residual Arctic air from before Christmas.
The dramatic temperature contrast highlighted the microclimates of southern Ontario. Residents in the Niagara region enjoyed a sizable December thaw, while just a few hours’ drive northeast, the frigid air kept sidewalks and roads icy.
Other noteworthy warm locations include:
Windsor: 14°C
Sarnia: 14.1°C
Hamilton: 14.6°C
With files from Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images/Vera Petrunina/1191394418-170667a.