Environment Canada issues special weather statement as rain, ‘strong cold front’ forecasted for Toronto

Warm winds and moisture will give way to flurries as the temperature slides, making for a difficult commute Friday. Bill Coulter has your five-day forecast.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Toronto Thursday night as up to 20 millimetres of rain are in the city’s forecast.

After a mix of sun and cloud throughout the day, the national weather agency says it will rain through Friday night with westerly winds gusting between 60 to 80 km/h, causing the temperature to rapidly fall resulting in icy and slippery surfaces.

“Rain will overspread the area tonight before changing over to flurries from west to east through the day on Friday as temperatures rapidly fall below the freezing mark,” the advisory reads.

“This will be the result of a strong cold front passing through the area.”

The winds are expected to taper off Friday night, says Environment Canada, which is also calling for flurries and snow squalls around Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

The agency is calling for a high of -1 C on Friday but it will feel closer to -12 in the afternoon when factoring in the wind chill.

It warns that travel throughout Toronto may occasionally be difficult, and that local power outages are possible.

Seasonal highs, however, will continue all the way until Christmas Eve.

Environment Canada says there will be a chance of flurries and a high of 1 C on Saturday in the city.

On Sunday, sunshine and flurries are also possible with a high of -2 C.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will see daytime highs of -1 C, 2 C, and 0 C on each day respectively.