Toronto braces for significant snowfall this weekend

Prepare to get the shovel out this weekend.

Wintry weather isn't going away anytime soon as Toronto and the surrounding regions expect to see between five and 10 centimetres of snow on Saturday.

The snowfall is expected to start in the city Saturday afternoon, beginning with lighter flurries that will turn into heavier snow by the evening and then taper to flurries by Sunday morning, an Environment Canada spokesperson told the Star.

On Friday evening, Environment Canada issued a winter weather travel advisory for Toronto and surrounding regions due to heavier snow that can result in reduced visibility.

The advisory says the snow is associated with a fast-moving, low-pressure system expected to move into southern Ontario from west to east Saturday afternoon.

Other areas affected by the weather advisory include York, Durham, Halton and Peel regions and areas east to Kingston and west to Huron County.

If travelling on Saturday, Environment Canada recommends adjusting your driving as road conditions change. "Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance," the advisory reads.

The weather service also expects winds up to 15 km/h on Saturday with a daytime high of -4 C before temperatures drop to a brisk -13 C with wind chill.

Skies should be clear by Sunday evening as the area will see a daytime high of 0 C and a nighttime low of -8 C.

According to the City of Toronto, crews start salting the roads when the snow starts sticking to the pavement and plows get deployed at 2.5 cm for expressways, five centimetres for major roads, transit routes and streets with hills, and at eight centimetres for residential streets.

Pearson Airport said it got some snowfall overnight Friday and that crews have been clearing runways, but they expect "smooth operations" as they prepare for "what could be the biggest snowstorm of the season this weekend."

Regions north of Toronto are under snowfall warnings with up to 20 centimetres expected in some areas over the weekend.

Environment Canada issued snow squall warnings for places such as Barrie, Bracebridge, Tobermory and Orillia, Ont., early Friday morning and say the downpour will improve by the evening.

Other parts of the Greater Toronto Area such as Innisfil, Newmarket, Georgina and Uxbridge, Ont., are under a weather advisory for five to ten centimetres of expected snow throughout Friday.

With files from Anastasia Blosser