Drivers, buckle up—and not just for safety. Monday afternoon might just throw a snowy curveball your way.
Environment Canada has issued a travel advisory for Waterloo Region and surrounding areas, warning of a sudden snow burst paired with gusty winds and plunging temperatures. Sounds like winter’s got one last performance queued up—just when we were ready to retire the snow brush for the season.
According to the alert, up to 2 cm of snow could fall as a sharp cold front moves through. While that might not sound like much, it’s the timing and speed that matter. This isn’t the slow-dancing snow you stroll through on a December evening. It’s the fast, swirling kind that crashes your commute and turns traffic into a tense game of “Guess That Lane.”
The advisory urges drivers to be on high alert:
“Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions,” says Environment Canada. “If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead, and be prepared to stop.”
Sage advice—especially if you’ve ever tailgated a snow plow thinking it was the exit ramp.
This latest advisory comes on the heels of last week’s weather rollercoaster, which gave us a little bit of everything: freezing rain, a splash of rainfall, and, of course, more snow. The Grand River Conservation Authority had even issued flood warnings, which were thankfully lifted earlier Monday.
A Chilling Flashback
Take it from “Mike,” a fictional delivery driver in Kitchener, who left for a short afternoon route last March during a similar advisory. “It was sunny when I left the depot,” he recalls. “Ten minutes later, I couldn’t see the hood of my truck. I missed three turns, delivered two wrong packages, and had a mild existential crisis in the Tim Hortons parking lot.”
Mike now checks the forecast like it’s a lottery ticket.
Bottom Line
The snow may be light, but the impact could be heavy. If you’re heading out Monday afternoon, give yourself extra time. Pack some patience. And maybe skip the coffee run—unless you’re walking.
Because as comedian George Carlin once said:
“Weather forecast for tonight: dark.”
Stay safe, stay warm, and whatever you do—don’t trust the sunshine.
