Periods of brief freezing rain are possible today for Newmarket, Environment Canada warns in a special weather statement issued this morning.
Freezing rain could begin at 11 a.m. and continue until about 1 p.m. today, with periods of rain continuing throughout the day and into the early morning hours.
The alert also includes northern York Region, including Georgina, as well as Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham.
Drivers are advised to stay off of the roads during this type of wintry precipitation because icy patches can cause you to suddenly lose control of your vehicle. Bridges, overpasses and elevated roadways also ice up more quickly. Pedestrians should be extra cautious, as well.
In many cases, freezing rain creates the most car accidents and injuries because when the roads become slick and icy, it’s nearly impossible to drive, police services say.
The weather agency notes that light precipitation is moving into portions of southern Ontario this morning. The precipitation may initially begin as light freezing rain before temperatures quickly rise above the freezing mark.
Over areas of higher terrain away from Lake Ontario including the Oak Ridges Moraine, temperatures may be slower to rise, remaining near or just below the freezing mark into the early afternoon.
In these locations, the patchy freezing rain may persist into early afternoon. Slippery conditions are possible on untreated surfaces.
Conditions will be monitored closely and freezing rain warnings will be issued if required.
Rain that falls through a shallow layer of cold temperatures at or below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees F) near the surface becomes freezing rain, which can freeze on contact with roads, bridges, trees, power lines, and vehicles, according to Earth Sky
To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports on Twitter using #ONStorm.
