New Year's Day in Ontario could be warmest yet!

After having our entire years ration of snow dumped on us in less than a week here in London, New Year's Day in Southern Ontario may be the warmest on record, forecasters say.

A current record high of 9.2 C was set on Jan. 1, 2007 but we can expect warmer temperatures and rain on Friday and Saturday. Southern Ontario faces a major thaw in the next two days due to warm air from the Gulf of Mexico, said CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe.

"Right now, that warm air mass is down across the U.S. Midwest. That will continue to track east and temperatures will continue to bump up until Saturday," she said. "Toronto on Saturday, the record to beat is 9.2 [Celsius] and it could get up to 10 or 11."

The warmer weather has prompted York Regional Police to issue a warning to snowmobilers, hikers and skiers.

"The York Regional Police Marine Unit are warning citizens to be diligent and stay off the ice on lakes and other bodies of water and away from fast flowing rivers and streams as milder weather is expected in the coming days," the police service said in a release.

Forecasters say people shouldn't get used to the balmy weather............, seasonal temperatures return on Sunday.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim/Canadian Press)

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2010/12/30/toronto-new-year523.html?ref=rss#ixzz19e4G2OH9