Alright folks, we’re dealing with a classic April tease tonight. It’s sitting at -2°C across most of the region with that northwest wind making it feel closer to -6°C. If you’re heading out for late-night errands or picking someone up, you’ll want that winter jacket back on. The overcast skies are keeping things relatively stable, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s mild out there.

The overnight story is all about radiational cooling under clearing skies. We’re going to see those clouds break up after midnight, and when that happens, temperatures are going to tank fast. I’m talking about dropping to -6°C by morning across the valley, with rural areas like Arnprior and Pembroke potentially seeing -8°C or colder. Classic spring setup where clear skies turn into a freezer.

Tomorrow’s Turnaround

But here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday morning starts brutally cold, then we’re looking at a complete 180. Once that sun gets working and the winds shift to the southwest, we’re climbing to 4°C by afternoon. It’s going to be one of those days where you leave the house in a parka and come home carrying it.

The models are locked in on this pattern. Both the GFS and the Euro are showing the same thing: high pressure building in from the west, giving us wall-to-wall sunshine and a solid warm-up. No complaints here after the winter we’ve had.

The Rest of the Week Gets Messy

Thursday is where things get complicated, and I won’t sugarcoat it. We’ve got a low-pressure system tracking up from the Great Lakes, and it’s bringing a mixed bag. Temperatures jump to 13°C, which sounds great, but we’re also looking at moderate drizzle and winds gusting to 31 km/h. Not exactly patio weather.

Friday throws us another curveball with heavy snowfall forecasted. Yes, you read that right. We could see 2.7cm of snow on April 10th. I’ve been tracking weather in this city for years, and April snow isn’t unusual, but this system looks like it has some teeth. The weekend stays unsettled with more drizzle Sunday.

What You Need to Know

Tonight and tomorrow morning: bundle up like it’s February. We’re talking winter boots, gloves, the works. Sidewalks and steps will be slippery with frost forming under those clear skies.

The morning commute Wednesday will be cold but clear. Give yourself an extra minute or two to scrape frost off the windshield. By afternoon, you can ditch the heavy coat.

Looking ahead, keep those winter tires on for at least another week. Friday’s snow might not stick around long, but it could make for a messy morning commute. And yes, I know it’s April. Mother nature doesn’t check the calendar.