A special weather statement has been issued for Toronto ahead of heavy rainfall and above seasonal temperatures on Wednesday that could melt snow banks and lead to some localized flooding.
Environment Canada says that total rainfall amounts of between 10 and 20 millimetres are possible over the course of Tuesday night and Wednesday.
“This rainfall, combined with melting snow and the limited ability of the frozen ground to absorb the rain may lead to localized flooding in low lying areas and water pooling on roads,” the special weather statement warns.
Toronto has been buried under a significant amount of snow since the city was hit by back-to-back-to-back winter storms on Feb. 13, Feb. 15 and Feb. 16.
The winter conditions, however, appear set to change.
Environment Canada says that the temperature will reach a high of 2 C in Toronto on Monday, which is right around the seasonal norm for this time of year.
Tuesday will start off cold with flurries or ice pellets possible in the morning but the temperature is set to rise to 5 C by the afternoon as the precipitation transitions to rain.
CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter says that while there will only be “light showers” on Tuesday afternoon, it is likely that Toronto will see periods of “heavy rain” on Wednesday along with a daytime high of 7 C.
The average daytime high for early March is 3 C with an average low of – 6 C.
“The models aren’t perfectly aligned on totals. But 15 to 25 millimetres of rain, mostly on Wednesday, is very likely,” Coulter says. “That combined with a temperature rising to 7 C will likely melt a lot of what’s still out there.”
On Thursday temperatures will again drop below freezing with a high of – 1 C and the risk of flurries.
The weekend will bring conditions that are more seasonal, with a daytime high of 1C on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
