Strong Winds Bring Flooding and Snowsqualls to Ontario
A departing Alberta Clipper brought strong winds, a shot of cold air, and the first accumulating snow of the year for Southern Ontario. Wind gusts reached over 80 km/h in many areas with a 102 km/h gust reported at Welcome Island.
November 1st Preliminary Wind Gusts Via Environment Canada:
Welcome Island: 102 km/h
Western Islands: 98 km/h
Sault Ste. Marie: 93 km/h
Collingwood: 85 km/h
Port Colborne: 85 km/h
Goderich: 83 km/h
Point Petre: 83 km/h
The strong winds caused significant beach erosion and lakeshore flooding due to the storm surge brought by the winds. The waters rose so much that roads and buildings were under water in Grand Bend, Ontario.
In addition, the cold front brought a much colder airmass with rain showers changing to snow on the back side. The strong northwest winds brought the cold air over the warm waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, triggering the first lake effect snow event of the year. Snow squall warnings were issued for areas downwind of the lakes, and combined with the winds created whiteout conditions and even some thundersnow northwest of London.
The OPP responded to numerous collisions and reports of cars in the ditch across the region as the snow made driving difficult. The snowsquall warnings have since been ended as the snow tapered off to flurries Monday morning after the winds died down. Below normal Temperatures are forecast end this week as a strong ridge builds in, with highs expected to be well above normal and likely to reach the mid teens by mid week.