Periods of freezing rain are expected to taper off throughout the day on Tuesday, but not before wreaking havoc on the nation’s capital.
Environment Canada notes that the freezing drizzle can produce thin, hard-to-detect layers of ice, making walkways, parking lots and roads slippery.
“Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas,” the weather agency said.
It’s expected to be a high of 5 C with a wind chill of -8 C. Rain, between 10 and 15 millimetres, and fog patches are possible overnight.
The rain is set to continue on Wednesday with another 10 to 15 mm predicted with a high of 4 C. It will be cloudy with a 70 per cent chance of flurries or rain with a low of -4 C.
Yesterday, about 5 centimetres of snow was dumped on Ottawa, which led to “treacherous” driving conditions during the afternoon commute, according to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Officers responded to nearly 100 collisions between 1:00 p.m. on Monday and 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, including a jackknifed tractor-trailer on Highway 401. They did note that most were minor with no injuries.
“Many crashes during winter weather can be avoided by adjusting your driving habits. Number one: SLOW DOWN. Even if you have winter/snow tires you are not immune to ice and snow. They help, but cannot prevent sliding in all circumstances,” police said in a post on X.
As the low-pressure system moved toward Ottawa, officials put out a plea for people to stay off the roads if they didn’t need to be out.
More mixed weather is expected over the next few days including rain, flurries and rising temperatures followed by a possible flash freeze overnight.