Ottawa remains under freezing rain warning
Posted Feb 9, 2023 09:00:00 PM.
Ottawa drivers are in for a messy commute home this afternoon.
Environment Canada first issued a special weather statement on Tuesday, Feb. 7, which has since been upgraded to a freezing rain warning starting Thursday afternoon, Feb. 9.
Freezing rain is in the forecast for Ottawa and the Valley, with ice build up expected between two and five millimetres, in addition to snow and ice pellets.
“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery,” said the weather agency in a statement. “Slow down driving in slippery conditions.”
Denise Andreacchi, CityNews weather specialist, told The Sam Laprade Show on Feb. 9 said the big concern is the ice secretion.
A mix of snow and ice pellets will start Thursday afternoon before transitioning to prolonged periods of freezing rain, eventually changing over to rain at night.
“Two to five millimetres doesn't sound like much, but it's a dangerous type of weather to be navigating in,” she said. “It's the most difficult to treat for crews out there and on top of that, we have snow, ice pellets and rain.”
School buses across Ottawa and the Valley were cancelled due to the weather conditions, but schools remained open.
Listen to the full interview with Denise Andreacchi below:
