A major ice storm is forecasted to impact the Waterloo region, Guelph, and Wellington County on Wednesday, bringing several hours of freezing rain.
Environment Canada has issued an orange warning indicating that the freezing rain will start overnight Wednesday or early in the morning and should ease off by evening.
The agency predicts there will likely be several hours of freezing rain resulting in approximately five to ten mm of ice accumulation, with some areas possibly seeing up to fifteen mm. This could result in power outages and damage to trees, especially with winds gusting up to 60 km/h.
Eric Tomlinson, a meteorologist focused on warning preparedness at Environment Canada, noted that a low pressure system began over Montana on Tuesday.
“It tracked eastward and then southeastward across the Great Lakes and is now impacting the southern half of our province,” he said.
He cautioned that surfaces are expected to be quite slippery, particularly in elevated regions.
“Areas closer to Lake Huron may see less impact as temperatures are likely to rise above freezing,” Environment Canada stated in its orange warning posted online.
“Roads and walkways will likely become icy and slippery. There may be significant effects on rush hour traffic. There’s a risk of injury from slips and falls.”
This weather alert comes along with a yellow fog advisory that started for Waterloo region and Guelph on Tuesday morning, with reports of near-zero visibility in certain areas.
Environment Canada indicates that visibility could drop suddenly at times on Tuesday before improving later in the morning. Motorists are advised to switch on their headlights, reduce speed, and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.
People should stay updated with the latest forecasts and alerts while exercising caution if they need to travel.
Tomlinson also mentioned there’s more winter weather expected later this week.
The second system “is going to form over Colorado and head towards us for Friday. And it’s a system that we’ll have to monitor. We’ll have a clearer picture once the one [on Wednesday] moves through, but it’s another one to watch because there is potential for mixed precipitation with this next system as well.”
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GO Transit warns of delays
GO Transit informed customers on Tuesday that the storm may lead to delays on Wednesday for routes across southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. “We’re encouraging everyone to plan ahead, allow extra time and travel with caution,” a release said. The provincial transit service advises people check their website or sign up for On the GO alerts for updates about delays or cancellations. “We understand that weather-related delays can be frustrating for customers; however we must take necessary measures to ensure safety throughout all weather conditions.”Source link
