Freezing rain possible Friday but Waterloo Region may be spared

As commuters through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) prepare for a “potent spring ice storm” starting late Friday and into Monday, weather specialists say Waterloo Region could avoid the worst of it.

“At least that is the way it’s trending right now,” Jill Taylor, 570 NewsRadio Meterologist, said. “But this is such a battle between winter and spring, and the dividing line can be pretty sharp. So one area will get the freezing rain, and we’ll get the rain because we’re simply too mild.”

There are no weather alerts in effect for Waterloo as of Thursday morning, with temperatures set to hover around 2 C Friday evening, not cold enough for the freezing rain to make an appearance.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Toronto and the GTA.

“Confidence is increasing in a widespread, prolonged freezing rain event over portions of southern and northeastern Ontario,” the national weather agency said in issuing the statement on Wednesday.

“The swath of maximum ice accretion is still uncertain at this point, but confidence is highest for areas of central and eastern Ontario between Parry Sound and Kingston. Warnings will be issued as the event draws nearer,” Taylor said.

Environment Canada said significant ice accretion from freezing rain, up to 15 millimetres, is possible, with more than 20 millimetres over some areas.

There is also the potential for local snowfall and ice pellet accumulations of 5-15 centimetres for central and northeastern Ontario.

The national weather agency warns of possible power outages as well as broken tree branches from the ice build-up.