Environment Canada: heavy winds and rain in forecast

Update (Friday, Dec. 10, 2021)
This special weather statement from Environment Canada has now been upgraded to both a rainfall warning and a wind warning for Kingston and the area. Details are available here.

Original article

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Kingston and the area, advising of blustery weather with a large dose of rain in the coming days.

Issued just before 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, the statement is in effect for the Kingston, Odessa, Frontenac Islands, Napanee, Consecon, Picton, and Sandbanks Park areas, and states that “heavy rain and strong winds” are likely for the night of Friday, Dec. 10 and into the night of Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021.

“Rain is forecast to begin Friday evening over southwestern Ontario and spread over the remainder of southern Ontario Friday night. Showers at times heavy will continue Saturday before temperatures rapidly fall and light snow develops Saturday night in the wake of a strong cold front,” Environment Canada said in the statement, noting that rainfall amounts of 20 to 45 mm will be possible by Saturday night.

“In addition, very strong southwesterly winds gusting from 90 to 110 km/h are also expected Saturday afternoon near the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River valley. By Saturday evening, these winds are forecast to shift to the northwest and slowly ease.”

The national weather agency said that some damage to trees and local power outages due to these strong winds are possible, and that wind warnings are likely to be announced as the weather event approaches the area.

Kingstonist will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.