Severe Freezing Rain Expected Wednesday in Ottawa-Gatineau

A potentially dangerous freezing rainstorm could disrupt much of western Quebec from Wednesday into Thursday, according to orange-level weather alerts for the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

Environment Canada predicts two to three centimetres of freezing rain starting around 6 a. m. on Wednesday for regions stretching from Gatineau north to Maniwaki and east toward Montreal.

Significant property damage and long-lasting outages are anticipated, as noted by Environment Canada. They advise against any non-essential travel.

The City of Gatineau mentioned that freezing rain is likely to peak between 10 a. m. and 6 p. m. on Wednesday.

WATCH | The possible timing of the storm:

Environment Canada details how Wednesday’s freezing rainstorm might unfold over the day

Eric Tomlinson, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, discusses what’s expected on Wednesday morning, afternoon, and evening in the Ottawa valley as freezing rain moves into the region.

The rest of western Quebec and northern eastern Ontario may experience one or two centimetres of freezing rain based on their warnings. However, that amount does not necessarily indicate how much ice will accumulate, according to Environment Canada.

Areas in Outaouais like Shawville and Fort-Coulonge should prepare for power outages. Residents there might want to consider postponing any non-essential travel.

The warning for eastern Ontario covers areas north of Highway 7 and stretches further east up until Cornwall. There could be more mixed precipitation including both rain and freezing rain, especially in southern parts.

This region is also likely to see outages and property damage, as stated by Environment Canada. Caution is advised for those who choose to travel.

This storm could resemble the ice storm from April 2023 that affected the area significantly, according to Eric Tomlinson, an Environment Canada meteorologist focused on warning preparedness.

That event left hundreds of thousands without power; Hydro Ottawa called it the worst ice storm since 1998.

Rainfall Warning Along Lake Ontario

Communities south of these warnings should expect between 20 to 40 millimetres of rainfall.

Areas north and east of Kingston might see precipitation fluctuating between rain and freezing rain.

A yellow-level freezing rain warning exists just south of the orange alert affecting places like Brockville and Tweed.

A rainfall warning applies just south of that less severe area for Mallorytown along with communities westward such as Belleville and Kingston.

Spring flood alerts are issued across all six conservation authorities in eastern Ontario. They generally indicate rising water levels which may lead to local flooding particularly in low-lying or vulnerable areas.

Temperatures are forecasted around the freezing point in Ottawa-Gatineau from Tuesday night through Thursday.

The orange warnings sit at mid-level within Environment Canada’s three-color scale indicating unusual severe weather likely causing major disruptions.

Tomlinson pointed out that the ice storm from 1998 serves as an example of a red-level event.

Ways To Prepare

The City of Ottawa suggests being ready for extreme weather by stocking up on emergency supplies like non-perishable food items and batteries sufficient for three days’ worth.
Vehicles should carry essentials such as booster cables, a battery pack, first aid kit, sand or kitty litter for traction, flashlight along with blankets.
It’s crucial also to take precautions against carbon monoxide poisoning.

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