Residents of Guelph and surrounding areas are urged to prepare for hazardous winter conditions as Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for the region. According to the advisory, up to 15 centimeters of snow is expected to blanket the areas of Waterloo, Guelph, and Wellington County, with the heaviest snow anticipated on Monday afternoon and early evening.
The advisory indicates, "Snow is expected to move swiftly across the area starting Monday morning, though there will be a brief respite before another significant round hits later today." Initially, only a few centimeters are forecast to accumulate, but more substantial snowfall is set to arrive late afternoon. The snow is predicted to taper off to flurries by late evening, accompanied by a risk of freezing drizzle, which could create additional hazards on the roads.
Given the forecasted conditions, motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are warned to exercise caution. "Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather," Environment Canada stated, highlighting the potential for dangerous driving conditions. This includes roads and walkways becoming increasingly difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow, particularly as visibility might drop during heavy snowfall.
Temperatures on Monday are expected to start at -6 degrees Celsius and rise to -1 degrees Celsius, but residents are reminded to factor in wind chill, which can exacerbate the cold. The advisory also notes potential difficulties during evening commutes, as the snow may reduce visibility considerably.
Looking forward, Tuesday's forecast for Guelph includes light flurries with possible freezing drizzle and highs of 1 degree Celsius. The similarly chilly evening may present additional snowfall, dropping temperatures down to -5 degrees Celsius. With the sun setting at 4:49 p.m., the weather conditions are expected to remain complicated throughout the week.
Looking beyond Tuesday, the week will see varied weather. Wednesday's forecast predicts mix of sun and clouds but temperatures will barely rise above freezing at 0 degrees Celsius with nighttime lows of -3 degrees. Thursday is expected to bring more clouds with temperatures rising to 2 degrees Celsius, and Friday's forecast calls for cloudy conditions again but with highs reaching 5 degrees.
Saturday seems to diverge slightly from the cold with temperatures around 6 degrees Celsius, introducing showers later in the day.
For individuals planning their weekly activities, keeping abreast of the weather updates will be important, particularly for travelers who might encounter significant delays throughout the week due to the impending snow. With varying weather conditions, the advice from Environment Canada is clear: exercise caution whether travelling by road or foot.
