Toronto was issued a rainfall warning Tuesday night after a winter storm battered parts of Ontario with snow and rain.
Environment Canada told residents to expect between 20 and 35 millimetres of rainfall in the city and its environs, with the precipitation anticipated to taper off in the evening or overnight.
Following the agency’s forecast, the Ontario Provincial Police cautioned that the large amount of rain can create hazardous driving conditions akin to those caused by snow.
Sgt. Kerry Schmidt highlighted the potential for standing water, which could lead to hydroplaning and pose risks similar to wet or slippery roads.
“Just be careful out there,” Schmidt said via CBC News. “Give yourself lots of time to adjust to changing driving conditions.”
Toronto’s latest episode of bad weather was reportedly caused by a low-pressure area that formed over the Gulf of Mexico and travelled north towards Ontario.
According to David Phillips, senior climatologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, the warmer air and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is colliding with the cold air currently over the province.
This will result in a mix of precipitation and a gradual rise in temperatures, Phillips said. The storm could also bring blustery winds up to 50 km/h.
In central and eastern Ontario, some regions have been under a storm watch for Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
The most substantial snowfall is forecasted for central Ontario, including Sault Ste. Marie and Greater Sudbury, where Environment Canada has predicted between 15 and 30 centimetres of snow starting Tuesday afternoon.
Ottawa and its surrounding areas were also placed under a storm watch, with Environment Canada expecting 10 to 20 centimetres of snow, possibly transitioning into freezing rain and ice pellets.
The ice storm that hit both Ontario and Quebec last spring ranked among the costliest weather events of 2023, resulting in insured losses totalling $330 million.
Meanwhile, severe storms that occurred in Ontario during the summer led to insured losses amounting to $340 million.
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