Canada’s weather agency says an ice storm is going to hit Hamilton and Niagara Region late Wednesday afternoon.
Environment Canada believes the event will bring heavy snow for the afternoon commute before changing to an ice storm in the evening.
“A prolonged period of freezing rain leading to significant ice build-up in some areas. Ice accretion of 10 to 20 millimetres is possible,” the agency said in its warning.
The snow, mixed with ice pellets, is expected to be heavy at times with total amounts around 5 centimetres anticipated.
Meteorologists say north east winds gusting between 50 to 70 km/h are also expected until Thursday morning.
The strongest gusts will hit exposed areas downwind of Lake Ontario.
The agency also says power outages are likely around Niagara, and other parts of southwestern Ontario with freezing rain, moderate winds and up to 20 millimetres of ice buildup possible.
Global News senior meteorologist Anthony Farnell is suggesting residents avoid a potential traffic snafu by leaving work early on Wednesday and perhaps going into work late Thursday morning to avoid the city’s road crews clearing snow.
“The best shot at snow will be early on. So throughout the day today and then it does transition,” Farnell said.
“I do think there’s going to be several hours of freezing rain and that is the worst outcome and that will be late this evening.”
Wednesday’s daytime temperatures in Hamilton and Niagara are expected to hover around -1 C with winds potentially gusting between 40 to 70 km/h by the afternoon.
The low for Wednesday night should hit -3 C with the wind chill making it feel more like -11 C.
Thursday’s daytime high is expected to reach 1 C, with periods of snow and ice pellets through much of the day.
Farnell says the tough part about the freezing rain and ice pellets is how it will accumulate on objects during the storm.
“If you’re shoveling your driveway, it’s just very heavy,” he explained.
“It’s ice pellets and then freezing rain on top of that. So it’s not exactly going to be easy going.”