December was colder and snowier than usual, according to a recent report from the E.D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station at the University of Waterloo. The report indicates that the month was approximately three degrees below the average temperature, making it the second coldest December in the past two decades, with 2017 being the coldest. An interesting temperature spike was observed on the morning of December 29, with a rapid increase from 0.8°C to 8.9°C within an hour, followed by a drop to 4.8°C an hour later and eventually dipping below zero.
Precipitation levels were also above average, totaling 113.2 millimetres compared to the typical 72.1 millimetres. Snowfall measurements reached 54.5 centimetres, significantly surpassing the average of 30.7 centimetres, marking the snowiest December since 2008. Additionally, on December 28, a mix of rain, ice pellets, and snow added another 50 millimetres. The total snowfall for the season so far is 113.5 centimetres, more than double the average of 41.8 centimetres.
Snowfall has persisted into the new year, with forecasts predicting ongoing snowfall until Tuesday, followed by a temporary rise in temperatures above freezing for a few days. Amid fluctuating temperatures, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) has issued a warning urging people to avoid ponds, rivers, and streams due to potentially unsafe ice conditions. The authority emphasized that despite the formation of ice due to colder temperatures, factors such as temperature fluctuations, wind, precipitation, and underwater currents can weaken ice sheets and make them prone to breaking easily.
GRCA advised against using the ice for winter activities, noting that snow cover may conceal weak spots and hinder proper freezing. Ice fishing remains prohibited at GRCA parks. The authority also highlighted elevated water levels in the Grand River watershed due to recent warm and wet weather, with major reservoirs being utilized to mitigate downstream flood risks. Water levels are expected to remain high as stored runoff is gradually released in the coming week.