Southern Ontario about to be slammed with first near-freezing temps of season

Southern Ontario is about to experience its first frost of the season, and areas of the province, including Toronto, can expect quite the chill on Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a Yellow Advisory for portions of the region, including Toronto, warning that temperatures are expected to fall to "near the freezing mark" starting overnight Monday.

The government weather agency warns that damage to plants, trees, and crops is possible, and urges the public to "Take preventative measures to protect cold-sensitive plants, trees, and crops," with the instruction to "Cover up plants, especially those in frost-prone areas."

According to The Weather Network, Toronto temperatures are expected to bottom out at 4 degrees C overnight, with wind chill values making it feel more like 1 degree C.

The Yellow frost advisory marks the first cold weather warning of the season, and comes just weeks after a late-season blast of heat gave locals a summer victory lap.

However, the arrival of fall has brought a snap in temperatures over the past few weeks, and the first flurries of the season are now predicted to be just around the corner.

While it's a chilly awakening for the region, the winter ahead might not be as bad as what locals are accustomed to.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a "supersized" El Niño is now firmly established and is expected to intensify into a "very strong event" over the next few months. 

The WMO predicted a 100 per cent likelihood that the event will persist through February 2027, resulting in milder winter temperatures.