Environment Canada has issued a yellow watch for snow squalls for most of the Kawarthas region for Saturday night (December 20) into Sunday.
The snow squall watch is in effect for Peterborough County, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County.
A strong cold front will pass through the region overnight Saturday night, bringing strong wind gusts and a possible frontal snow squall briefly reducing visibility to near zero in heavy snow and blowing snow. Once the front passes, lake effect snow squalls off of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are expected to develop for Sunday, with strong northwest winds and blowing snow continuing until the afternoon.
Total local snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 cm are possible in southern Peterborough County and southern Kawartha Lakes, with 5 to 10 cm in northern Peterborough County, northern Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton County.
The lake effect snow will be accompanied by 50 km/h westerly winds gusting to 70 km/h overnight, with a wind chill of minus 18. Winds will diminish to 30 km/h in the morning, gusting to 50 km/h.
Travel may be hazardous. Prepare for the possibility of quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.
Environment Canada recently launched new colour-coded alerts for weather advisories, watches, and warnings.
Yellow alerts, which are the most common, indicate hazardous weather that may cause damage, disruption, or health impacts. Impacts are moderate, localized, and/or short-term.
Orange alerts, which are uncommon, indicate severe weather that is likely to cause significant damage, disruption, or health impacts. Impacts are major, widespread. and/or may last a few days.
Red alerts, which are rare, indicate very dangerous and possibly life-threatening weather will cause extreme damage and disruption. Impacts are extensive, widespread, and prolonged.
