Significant freezing rain on the way. Potential for a major ice storm likely tonight for parts of Southern Ontario.
A slow-moving low currently over Illinois combined with Arctic air over Southern Ontario to produce a wintery mix this morning over parts of Southern Ontario. But the bulk of the precipitation is yet to come, and is threatening to produce quite serious consequences. The main precipitation is expected to arrive this evening in the form of freezing rain and ice pellets. It may fall heavy at times and be accompanied by a few rumbles of thunder. It will change to rain later tonight in most areas as temperatures rise above the freezing mark.
This afternoon’s commute should not be problematic, but deteriorating road conditions are likely this evening. As temperatures hover near the freezing mark, treated roads may tend to be merely wet while untreated roads may become slippery. Also, shoreline areas near Lake Ontario, including downtown Toronto, may see mixed rain and freezing rain, which will significantly limit the impacts in those areas.
The greatest concern is the risk of widespread power outages beginning this evening from downed tree limbs and power lines due to significant ice accumulation combined with northeast winds gusting to 60 km/h. Freezing rain amounts up to 10 mm are quite possible in many areas with some regions possibly exceeding 20 mm. The heavier amounts would be primarily to the west and northwest of the Greater Toronto area, over the higher terrain of the Oak Ridges moraine and above the Niagara Escarpment.
Rainfall Warning continues for Norfolk County, including Delhi, Simcoe, and Port Dover.
Heavy rainfall again tonight.
Several rounds of significant rain and thunderstorms have been affecting the warned regions over the past few days. Yet another heavy area of rain is threatening the area tonight as a slow-moving low approaches from Illinois. It is expected to develop this evening and continue well into the night along with more potential thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. An additional 25 to 30 mm are expected by Friday morning.
This Warning is for: Ancaster, Boston, Brant, Brantford, Caledonia, Cambridge, Delhi, Hagersville, Haldimand, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kitchener, Langton, Norfolk, Norwich, Oakland, Oxford, Paris, Port Dover, Scotland, Simcoe, St. Thomas, Tillsonburg, Toronto, Vanessa, Waterloo, Waterford, Woodstock
