The nation’s capital is stepping into the new week with a burst of spring warmth, but the mild spell comes packaged with a messy mix of rain, thunderstorms and a mid‑week temperature crash that will briefly pull the city back toward winter.
Forecasters say the next several days will feature dramatic swings — from near 15 C warmth to freezing rain risks — as eastern Ontario rides the rollercoaster of early spring.
Monday begins quietly, with sun and cloud in the morning and increasing cloud cover through the afternoon. A southwest wind of 20–40 km/h will help push temperatures to a very mild 14 C, well above seasonal norms for late March.
Conditions deteriorate Monday evening as scattered showers develop, accompanied by a risk of freezing rain. The low drops to 2 C.
Tuesday is shaping up to be a switch from the warm air.
Environment Canada is warning of a Colorado low bringing freezing precipitation to the region, however forecasters say there is “considerable uncertainty” to how widespread the system will be.
“At this point (Monday), it appears entirely possible that the precipitation could arrive in two waves with a break for several hours on Tuesday,” a statement from the weather agency reads. “During this break, the freezing rain may stop or change to freezing drizzle. The location of the band of freezing rain could also shift significantly should the track of this system change.”
A surge of cool, will drop temperatures to -1 C overnight. Forecasters expect some freezing drizzle as the shift happens.
Wednesday: A transition day with a wintry twist
Wednesday brings a brief break in the action, with cloud and a high near 8 C. But the calm won’t last.
As colder air pushes in from the north, the city faces the risk of freezing rain or ice pellets on Thursday.
This transition zone — warm air aloft, cold air at the surface — is classic early‑spring volatility. Even a short period of freezing rain could create slick conditions late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Temperatures hold near 2 C.
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