Freezing Rain, Slippery Road Warnings as Winter Storm System Tracks Through Eastern Canada

Snow falls in Montreal on Jan. 7, 2024. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

Severe winter storms are expected to create dangerous weather conditions in eastern Canada this week as a series of weather systems move across the region.

Areas of Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces may see freezing rain, increasingly strong winds, and heavy snow, along with plummeting temperatures, according to Environment Canada.

A snowfall warning has been issued for parts of Northwestern Ontario, where snow accumulation could reach as much as 20 centimetres. Environment Canada is predicting peak snowfall rates of two to four centimetres per hour in the Marathon, Nipigon, Wawa, and White River regions.

The heaviest snow will fall around Lake Superior on Dec. 9 but will taper off in the evening.

A freezing rain warning has been issued for large swaths of central and eastern Ontario with sections of the Muskokas, the Kawarthas, Peterborough, Belleville, and Kingston forecast to have ice buildup of two to four millimetres.

Barrie, Orillia, Owen Sound, and surrounding regions may be hit with freezing rain into the evening of Dec. 9, causing hazardous ice buildup on some surfaces.

“Ice build-up is expected to be greatest in areas where temperatures remain below freezing for most of tonight,” said a weather advisory.

Precipitation will also hit the Ottawa region with rainfall of nearly 30 millimetres expected the evening of Dec. 10 into the following morning, the agency said.

“As the frozen ground has a reduced ability to absorb the rain, significant amounts of water could accumulate on roads and inland,” Environment Canada said, noting that a drop in temperature overnight on Dec. 11 could lead to a flash freeze of standing water.

The agency warned commuters to expect poor travel conditions and delays on Dec. 12.

Quebec can also expect to feel the impact of the winter storm weather, Environment Canada said. Montreal and parts of the Atlantic provinces including New Brunswick will receive snowfall on Dec. 10, changing to rain or possibly freezing rain on Dec. 11. This dicey transition where temperatures begin above freezing will likely make some roads icy and slippery for drivers, as a rapid drop in temperatures is expected on Dec. 12. Environment Canada has asked travellers to consider changing any non-essential travel plans accordingly.

Meanwhile, a weather system has hit Labrador, where a wind warning is in effect. Gusts could reach 130 kilometres per hour in some areas. Up to 20 centimetres of snow is expected in some areas and as much as 35 centimetres is expected inland and over higher terrain.