Watch the video above: Nicole Mortillaro explains this weekend’s weather and why freezing rain is falling in some areas
TORONTO – It’s going to be a mixed bag of weather across southern Ontario this weekend, one that is sure to take its toll on Christmas travel and shopping.
It all started overnight Thursday as snow and mixed precipitation — including some freezing rain — fell across the region. Fortunately, the weather didn’t have much impact on morning rush hour traffic, likely due in part to many people starting their Christmas vacation early.
Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for southern Ontario, including the GTA and eastern Ontario.
By Friday afternoon reports were coming in east of the city of freezing rain.
But it’s the system that is expected to hit the region Saturday into Sunday that is of most concern.
A disturbance with significant moisture is making its way from Texas.
The system may bring a freezing rain storm to the Great Lakes area by Saturday evening. Upwards of 30 mm of freezing rain is possible.
Here’s what to expect:
Friday
Rain turning into freezing rain overnight
Saturday
There will be a break in the rain in the morning; by afternoon rain returns and if temperatures dip below 0 C, some accumulation of freezing rain of anywhere between 5 to 10 mm in some areas in and around the GTA.
The downtown core may escape the freezing rain if temperatures remain below 0 C. However, as there’s still some uncertainty as to where the cooler air will be, be careful: some accumulation of a couple of millimetres could occur.
Sunday
This is where it gets messy.
Saturday night into Sunday, as temperatures remain below 0 C, freezing rain will fall in and around the GTA. By that time, we may see near 20 mm or more of accumulation. North of the GTA, in cottage country, the precipitation will fall as snow.
Temperatures will rise above 0 C on Sunday afternoon, keeping things wet, not icy. The precipitation is expected to move out, but roadways may still be icy as temperatures drop below the freezing mark overnight.
If you’re going to head out this weekend, be sure to monitor road conditions and drive carefully.
Though this freezing rain storm is not expected to be nearly as bad as the ice storm of 1998 when nearly 120 mm of freezing rain dropped on eastern Ontario and Quebec, it may still cause some power outages as ice will be sure to build up on hydro wires, so be prepared.
For more info on Toronto weather, visit our Skytracker page, as the freezing rain event, the path and intensity could change.
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