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A rainfall warning for Ottawa calls for heavy rain on Tuesday night, after several days of snow and winter weather means the frozen ground can’t absorb much more precipitation.
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Environment Canada’s warning says rain, at times heavy, will start the evening of Dec. 10.
Rain may taper off on the following morning, but it is expected to “reintensify” later that afternoon.
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Total rainfall amounts of 30 to 40 mm are possible by Wednesday evening before rain changes to snow as temperatures drop below the freezing mark.
“Given the frozen ground, significant amounts of water due to snowmelt and rain could accumulate on roads and low-lying areas. Roads and sidewalks might become slippery with the temperatures dropping significantly overnight on Wednesday, and travel may be impacted,” the weather agency said. “There is still some uncertainty in regards to which areas will receive the highest rainfall amounts. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.”
A separate warning of severe fog was also issued for Ottawa, with Environment Canada forecasting “near zero visibility in fog,” with visibility improving slightly on Tuesday afternoon before worsening in the evening. The fog is expected to lift on Wednesday afternoon.
School buses outside the city were cancelled on Tuesday morning as freezing rain coated the region.Inside Ottawa, and in Renfrew buses were still on the road, but possibly behind schedule.
Students in the counties of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, and Prescott-Russell were without school buses because of the weather Dec. 10, according to Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario. That consortium operates buses for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, and the Upper Canada District School Board.
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Schools at both boards were open.
In this city, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority said buses would still be on the road, but warned of possible delays. The Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium also warned of delays, but kept its buses running Tuesday as well.
Environment Canada had a freezing drizzle advisory in effect through the morning. “Periods of freezing drizzle will continue until later this morning when precipitation weakens or ends,” the advisory said Tuesday.
“Freezing drizzle can produce thin, hard-to-detect layers of ice,” the national weather service warned. “Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas.”
Snow blanketed the area Monday night, turning overnight to freezing rain and drizzle. Freezing rain and rain are expected to continue until Wednesday. Tuesday’s high is 5 C, dropping slightly to 4 C on Wednesday.
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