Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning alerting residents in Hamilton of the potential for 15 centimetres of snow by Friday night.
Canada’s weather agency says the white stuff started falling in the late morning, reducing visibility on the roads due to “rapidly accumulating snow.”
“Light snow is expected to begin this morning, but should intensify late in the afternoon or evening,” the warning said Friday.
“This snow may have a significant impact on the evening commute in urban areas.”
The snowfall across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area is expected to reach between 10 and 15 cm by the end of Friday evening while most of Niagara Region will see between 5 and 10 cm.
The warning suggests those on the road adjust their driving patterns due to changing road conditions and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow,” the agency said.
Global News meteorologist Anthony Farnell says he believes Hamilton will get close to 15 cm but is not confident it will get there despite a period of heavier snow late this evening into the overnight.
“That’s when we should get most of the accumulation so that by the time you wake up tomorrow morning, we’re seeing a general 5 to 10 cm of snow locally,” he said.
“I don’t think we’re going to reach that 15 cm amount that would normally be associated with a snowfall warning.”
Farnell believes snow with intensifying winds between 3 and 4 p.m. will reduce visibility for drivers compounded by icy and slick surfaces at the tail end of the evening commute.
He says warmer temperatures around 4 C on Saturday with a mix of sun and cloud should melt the bulk of Friday’s accumulations.
“This is going to be a very light, fluffy snow, so that means it may add up a bit quicker, but it’s also going to melt quicker,” he explained.
“So even with the temperatures only a couple of degrees above freezing both Saturday and Sunday, with all of the sunshine that we’re forecasting, I do think much of what you see out there … will be gone by the end of the weekend.”
Despite Hamilton still recovering from a late February ransomware attack, the city’s roadway maintenance division says crews will be out salting and plowing clearing high-priority routes.
Manager Peter Sniuolis told Global News recent cybersecurity issues will not impact actual snow-clearing operations, just the ‘Track A Plow’ feature.
Meanwhile, the City of Burlington has gone ahead and declared a snow event suspending all on-street parking as of 9 p.m. Friday.
Environment Canada is predicting weather patterns will settle by Saturday morning with a mix of sun and cloud and high of around 3 C in the forecast.
On Monday, the agency expects sun and high of 8 C.
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