A “potent” spring ice storm is on the way for a large portion of Ontario this weekend, bringing with it dangerous roads and the possibility of power outages, Environment Canada is warning.
The weather agency has issued special weather statements calling for between 5 and 20 millimetres of ice accretion from freezing rain over portions of northern, central, eastern, and southern Ontario.
“The swath of maximum ice accretion is still uncertain at this point, but confidence is highest for areas … between Parry Sound and Kingston,” the warning says.
The advisory encompasses the Greater Toronto Area as well as areas as far north as Sudbury and Manitoulin Island.
Areas farther north like Thunder Bay are under snowfall warnings with accumulations of up to 25 centimetres.
The ice storm is expected to hit the province late March 28 with bouts of freezing rain through Monday.
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“A break in the freezing rain is expected for most areas late in the day on Saturday into Saturday night before a second round of freezing rain begins,” Environment Canada said.
The agency says more weather warnings will be issued as the storm approaches and urges residents of Ontario to remain vigilant.
Saskatchewan Storms
Ontario won’t be the only province dealing with another blast of winter. Saskatchewan is under a snowfall warning as a wintery mix of precipitation falls across much of southern Saskatchewan beginning March 28.
As much as 20 centimetres of snow is expected and freezing rain could also develop, Environment Canada says.
“The heaviest snowfall is forecast through Saskatoon and continuing east towards Yorkton,” the weather warning says. “In addition to snowfall, strong easterly winds will also develop causing reduced visibilities and poor highway travel conditions.”
A band of freezing rain has also developed along the southern edge of the heavy snow and is expected to migrate eastward throughout the day, the weather agency said.
Environment Canada is warning motorists to expect quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.
