Update: As of 5:00am Environment Canada has ended the freezing rain warning.
Environment Canada has issued a Freezing Rain Warning for areas across southern Ontario, with blowing snow and ice pellets expected to hit Monday afternoon.
A Texas low is making its way towards the Great Lakes. Associated with this low a warm front is expected to produce a band of freezing rain which is expected to impact Windsor near noon, London and Sarnia by 4 pm and continue to move northeastwards this evening.
"It's going to start as snow or ice pellets Monday afternoon, then change to freezing rain in the evening," says Peter Kimbell, meteorologist with Environment Canada. "It will change from freezing rain to rain by midnight as the temperature rises above freezing. It's a concerns for the afternoon and evening above all."
Ice accumulation amounts could range from 5 to 10 mm. This could well be a significant freezing rain event as strong easterly winds of 40 gusting to 70 km/h will likely result in widespread power outages across several areas beginning this evening.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous.
Beware of branches or electrical wires that could break under the weight of ice. Environment Canada says drivers can expect poor travel conditions and power outages will be possible beginning Monday evening.
"We have had an incredibly nice December and that is not going to continue," says Kimbell. "We may see above normal temperatures continue but the type of temperatures we saw in December is not going to repeat itself in January and February. We are going to get colder weather and we are seeing that now. The forecast for the new few days is roughly normal with highs of minus 1."
