Rain, warm temperatures welcome the first day of March
Posted February 28, 2017 6:22 am.
Last Updated March 1, 2017 5:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Although a special weather statement remains in effect for Toronto and the GTA with rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, it’s going to be unusually warm to kick off the month of March.
Yet another potentially record-breaking temperature day is in store on Wednesday. The high of 15 C is set to break the record high of 13.2 C set on March 1, 2000.
“We could easily break that record today … some areas could go even warmer,” 680 NEWS meteorologist Jill Taylor said.
The recent wave of mild weather has shattered temperature records across the GTA. Last Thursday, the temperature not only broke the record high for the day, but it was also the warmest February day on record.
But don’t get used to the warm spell. Taylor said temperatures will drop to -5 C on Wednesday night and it will feel like -14 with the windchill. The cool-down will be accompanied by showers or flurries with the wind gusting to 50 km/h
Rain hit the region on Tuesday night and is expected to continue for most of the day. But as the cold front moves in, the leftover water could create icy road conditions.
“As the cold front moves through this evening, the showers will turn over to scattered flurries as temperatures plunge to well below the zero-degree mark,” Environment Canada said.
“Poorly drained sections of roads may become icy as a result.”
On Tuesday, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement not for the amount of rainfall but for the ground not being able to absorb the water.
“Although rainfall amounts are not expected to be overly significant, the ground has a reduced ability to absorb further rainfall due to recent rains and snowmelt,” the statement read.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority said the recent melting snow, coupled with the rainfall, would create higher-than-normal water levels in rivers and streams. There will also be slippery and unstable banks.
People were being warned to be cautious around all bodies of water and avoid driving through ponds of water.
