Issued at 5:44AM
Oxford – Brant, London -Middlesex, City of Hamilton, Niagara, Halton-Peel, Dunnville-Caledonia-Haldimand, Waterloo-Wellington, Simcoe-Delhi-Norfolk, Woodstock – Tillsonburg – Oxford County (others – please see full weather statement from Environment Canada)
A potentially historic ice storm is expected this weekend. Widespread power outages are likely.
A low pressure area with moisture from the Central Plains States is moving towards the lower Great Lakes this weekend. As the low approaches, brisk northeasterly winds will pump in cold Arctic air, forcing temperatures below freezing this morning.
Patchy rain will become widespread early this morning then change to freezing rain. It will likely persist into this evening.
A break in the precipitation is likely this evening with occasional freezing drizzle expected. However, as the low approaches tonight, freezing rain will likely become widespread again and persist into Sunday before changing to rain. Significant rain may fall Sunday afternoon into Sunday night creating localized flooding.
Ice build up to 25 mm appears likely across the region by Sunday morning. It may exceed that in some locales. Strong winds gusting to 70 or 80 km/h are also expected Saturday night and Sunday. The combination of excessive ice accumulations and strong winds will likely result in widespread power outages due to fallen trees and power lines.
Dangerous winter driving conditions are expected on untreated roads Saturday and Sunday, worsened by fallen tree limbs.
Stay away from fallen power lines. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.
Full text here: https://bit.ly/2ISwqr2
Source: Environment Canada
Graphic: Environment Canada
