Residents in Oshawa should prepare for a brief but chilly start to the week as a cold snap moves through the region. According to Environment Canada, temperatures are expected to drop significantly below normal levels before warming up again by mid-week.
Following a high of 7°C on Sunday, April 19, temperatures are forecasted to plummet to an overnight low of -2°C, with a wind chill near -8. Monday, April 20, is expected to be the coldest day of this stretch, with a high of only 3°C—roughly 9 degrees cooler than the typical average for this time of year—and a morning wind chill of -7.
While the weather will be noticeably cold, there are currently no formal weather alerts in effect for the city. The Durham Region Health Department issues formal cold weather alerts only when forecasts predict temperatures of -15°C or colder, or wind chills of -20 or colder. While this current snap does not meet those criteria, the department notes that wind chills of -10 and below can pose a risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone spending extended periods outdoors without proper clothing.
Weather observations provided by the Oshawa Executive Airport indicate that these temperature swings are part of the typical, unpredictable spring pattern in Ontario. Residents can expect the cold to be short-lived, with temperatures predicted to rise significantly to 17°C by Thursday, April 23.
