TORONTO: More snow, ice pellets and freezing rain moved into Toronto and parts of southern Ontario on Wednesday as Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning for the city, citing hazardous travel conditions through the morning and evening commutes. The federal weather agency said snow and ice pellet amounts of up to five centimetres were possible in Toronto, with multiple hours of freezing rain most likely west of the city and a few millimetres of ice buildup possible.
Environment Canada’s detailed forecast for Toronto called for periods of rain changing to snow or freezing rain at times mixed with ice pellets in the morning, with fog patches expected to dissipate. Winds were forecast to be from the east at 30 kilometres per hour with gusts to 50, while temperatures were expected to fall to about minus 2 Celsius by afternoon. The warning said ice pellets can reduce traction and create travel conditions that can be more hazardous than heavy snowfall.
The agency said precipitation in Toronto was expected to ease in intensity by Wednesday evening, though snow or freezing rain at times mixed with ice pellets could persist into the night before ending late. The forecast called for cloudy conditions overnight with a 60% chance of freezing drizzle and steady temperatures near minus 2. For Thursday, Environment Canada forecast cloudy skies with a chance of drizzle in the afternoon and a risk of freezing drizzle in the morning.
In areas west and southwest of Toronto, Environment Canada issued orange freezing rain warnings for Hamilton and for Kitchener, Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo, warning of significant ice accretion and strong winds. The agency said several hours of freezing rain were likely, with ice accretion of five to 10 millimetres and locally up to 15 millimetres possible, alongside easterly wind gusts up to 60 kilometres per hour, conditions that could lead to utility outages and tree damage.
Warnings Expand Across Southern Ontario
Environment Canada said the most hazardous conditions in the freezing rain warning areas were expected over higher elevations, while areas closer to Lake Huron could be less affected if temperatures rose above freezing. The agency said freezing rain was expected to begin in the morning and taper off by evening, with freezing drizzle potentially continuing overnight. It warned roads and walkways would likely become icy and slippery, increasing the risk of slips and falls and affecting rush-hour traffic.
To the north of the Greater Toronto Area, Environment Canada issued a yellow snowfall warning for Barrie, Collingwood and Hillsdale, calling for 10 to 15 centimetres of snow with periods of ice pellets mixed in at times. The warning said conditions were expected to begin Wednesday morning or early afternoon and continue through the evening, with reduced visibility at times and travel likely to be challenging as winds increased to 30 kilometres per hour with gusts to 50.
Transit And Travel Disruptions
Transit operators in Toronto also flagged localized impacts from icy conditions. The Toronto Transit Commission posted a service alert saying the University and Queen West entrance at Osgoode Station, at the southeast corner near the Four Seasons Centre, was closed due to icy conditions. The TTC directed riders to check service alerts for updates, and the closure underscored the risk that freezing rain and ice pellets can quickly make sidewalks, stairways and station approaches slippery.
Environment Canada urged residents across affected parts of southern Ontario to prepare for rapidly changing travel conditions and allow extra time for commuting. In Toronto, the agency said the winter storm warning covered a mix of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain through the day, while freezing drizzle remained a concern overnight. The Toronto forecast also called for additional unsettled weather later in the week, with periods of rain or snow expected on Friday and periods of snow forecast for Sunday. – By Content Syndication Services.