Home › Weather › Ontario Weather Rain Winds Cooldown
Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the BuzzLayer Weather Desk. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
Southern Ontario should brace for a wet and blustery Wednesday as a cold front sweeps across the region, bringing widespread rain, gusty winds up to 70 km/h, and a sharp cooldown behind it. Residents east of Lake Ontario and along the 401 corridor will feel the shift most acutely.
How much rain and wind are expected?
A band of steady rain will push through the Lake Ontario shoreline and the Greater Toronto Area during the morning commute, with totals of 15 to 25 millimetres before the system clears by evening. Southerly winds will strengthen ahead of the front, gusting to 60 or 70 km/h along exposed lakeshores, then turning northwesterly as the cold air arrives.
When will the cooldown hit?
Temperatures will plunge behind the front: highs near 8°C Wednesday will drop to around 0°C overnight, and Thursday’s high may only reach 2°C. The cooldown will feel more severe with lingering wind chill, especially for communities north of Lake Erie and around Ottawa.
Will any of this rain change to snow?
For most of southern Ontario the precipitation stays as rain, but areas north of Georgian Bay and the Ottawa Valley may see a brief mix or wet flurries as the cold air arrives late Wednesday night. Accumulations will be negligible.
When will the winds calm down?
Strongest gusts will occur between late morning and early evening Wednesday. Winds should diminish after midnight, though a brisk northwesterly flow will persist into Thursday morning before finally easing by midday.
Are any weather warnings in effect?
Environment Canada has posted wind warnings for some lakeshore communities, and a special weather statement covers the rain and cooldown. Check the Weather Warning page for the latest advisories in your area.