Messy winter weather hits the GTA

Even though spring is only two days away, winter’s grip remained on Toronto with wet snow hitting the GTA during the Monday evening commute.

“There is just about everything in the forecast,” CityNews weather specialist Jennifer Young said.

CityNews meteorologist says north of Bloor drivers “are far away from the lake that we’ve got risk for ice pellets, for freezing rain mixed in with snow as well before starting to switch over to rain.

“It’s going to be icy; it’s going to be slippery out there,” she said.

Light flurries began moving in through western Ontario around 2:30 p.m. and headed into the GTA, and that will change into a rain-snow mix throughout the afternoon and early evening.

Monday evening Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for Toronto, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Pickering, Oshawa and Southern Durham Region, saying “a couple hours of freezing rain are expected this evening before changing over to rain or drizzle later this evening.”

 

Check the full forecast here.

The snow will stick around in the north and east ends of the GTA, while drivers across the region contend with sloppy conditions and strong winds.

Gusts up to 50 km/h are expected in the downtown core, Young warned.

The city’s crews have been out on the roads since Sunday night, Toronto’s manager of road operations told CityNews.

“We’ve had a few rounds of direct liquid application on our trouble spots like hills, bridges and intersections,” Hector Moreno said.

“Now, we’re stockpiling salt and getting our trucks mechanically fit.”

Direct liquid application is an anti-icing procedure that stops snow from sticking to the street, and helps to prevent black ice and frost.

Environment Canada also issued a special weather statement, covering a large swath of southern Ontario warning of the possibility of a “wintry and messy mix of precipitation.”

“Motorists should expect driving conditions to deteriorate significantly once the precipitation arrives,” the federal agency said.

“Hazardous winter driving conditions are expected as untreated roads may become slippery and snow covered, and visibility in areas of heavier snow may be quite low.”

Porter Airlines and Air Canada have both issued travel advisories for flights out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

Monday’s forecast high is 0 C and the City of Toronto could see up to five centimetres of snow.

The first day of spring arrives on Wednesday with an anticipated high of 0 C.

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