A special weather statement has been issued as Toronto and the surrounding areas may see snow squalls this afternoon, according to Environment Canada.

“The storm is tapering off, but not completely because gusty winds are in store for the GTA,” said Gerald Cheng, a metrologist at Environment Canada. “We’re back in winter mode — you can forget about the mild temperatures.”

It’ll be cold waking up on Friday morning, Cheng says, with the wind chill pushing the temperature down to -16 C. There’s also a risk of snow squalls in the GTA with northwest winds carrying moisture from Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

There will be a 30 per cent chance of flurries overnight, a low -10 C feeling like -11 C with the wind chill in the evening and -17 C overnight.

Wind gusts will likely reach 50 km per hour in the day and becoming lighter near midnight.

Driving conditions could still be hazardous. OPP reported that by Thursday, more than 250 collisions occurred within 24 hours in Toronto and along Hwy 401.

Schools remain open, but some bus cancellations are in effect.

With files from Ted Fraser and Miriam Lafontaine

Osobe Waberi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @OsobeWaberi

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