Environment Canada issues freezing rain warning ahead of Ontario storm

Above: Torontonians prepare for coming snow storm

TORONTO – Southern Ontario is bracing for another winter blast as snowfall and freezing rain are expected across the province.

Environment Canada has issued freezing rain and snowfall warnings for southern Ontario as a weather system originating in the U.S.  intensifies and moves north.

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With some parts already experiencing light snowfall, the storm is expected to develop later Sunday afternoon, dumping up to 25 centimetres of snow in areas north of Toronto.

READ MORE: Thousands without power in Newfoundland after powerful blizzard

But Environment Canada says this won’t be a repeat of the December ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power for days.

“The impact will be nothing like the major ice storm we experienced in December,” said Arnold Ashton, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. “The freezing rain will be short-lived and there won’t be the same accumulation of ice on trees and power lines.”

Ashton says the amount of freezing rain is expected to be roughly 2-3mm, compared to the 20-30mm during the ice storm that blanketed Toronto.

READ MORE: Get ready for another snowy weekend

The agency says an intensifying low over Arkansas is heading towards southern parts of the province, bringing heavy snow to the area east of Lake Huron by this afternoon.

The heavy snow is expected to head east of Georgian Bay by this evening and hit northern Ontario before moving on to Quebec.

In the Toronto area, the snow is forecast to change to freezing rain overnight Sunday as temperatures rise above freezing.

But the warm temperatures won’t last: Environment Canada expects bitterly cold temperatures to descend on the GTA Monday.

“Wind chills could drop to the -30 to -40 range by the end of the day Monday along with wind gusts to 60km/h,” Global News’ weather specialist Anthony Farnell  said Sunday. “This will continue on Tuesday as the coldest temperatures move through. Some -40 to -45 wind chills are also briefly possible.”

Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate and become hazardous Monday morning as blowing snow creates reduced visibility and freezing rain creates slippery surfaces.

Porter Airlines and Air Canada are advising travelers to check their flight statuses before heading to airport. More than 30 flights were delayed or cancelled as of Sunday morning at Pearson International Airport.

The wintry conditions have already led to at least one major air travel accident after a Delta flight originating from Toronto slid off the runway at Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

LIVE BLOG: Updates on the Ontario snow storm

*With files from the Canadian Press