As Toronto starts to welcome spring, Mother Nature has other plans for this weekend. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for a potent ice storm that is expected to sweep through Toronto and other regions in southern Ontario starting late Friday.
The ice storm is expected to last until Monday, the national weather agency says.
The city is warned to watch out for “significant ice accretion from freezing rain” and general ice build-up that could reach five to 15 millimetres, with some areas potentially seeing over 20 millimetres.
While the hardest hit region is still uncertain, freezing rain is expected around Southern Ontario, with central and eastern regions, stretching from Parry Sound to Kingston, facing the highest risks.
Residents are urged to prepare for power outages, stay off icy roads, and watch out for broken tree limbs from ice build-up.
Most areas can expect a brief pause in the freezing rain late Saturday into the night, before a second round begins on Sunday.
Environment Canada advises Ontarians to stay alert, noting that weather warnings will be issued as the storm approaches.
While Thursday brings a brief taste of spring with sunny skies and a high of 11 C, it’s only a calm before the storm. Showers may move in this evening with temperatures dipping to zero.
Friday is set to start off cloudy, with rain expected by late afternoon and a risk of freezing rain, with a high of 4 C and a low of -1 C.
Freezing rain is forecasted for both Saturday and Sunday, with a high of 1 C on Saturday, and a low of zero. A high of 2 C on Sunday is expected and a low of 1 C.
