A freezing rain warning remains in effect for Toronto and many parts of the GTA, while more than 100,000 Ontarians are without power in cottage country.
Hydro One is reporting that tens of thousands are without power due to the ice storm from Tobermory and Gravenhurst to Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes.
As of 11 p.m., the provincial utility said it was dealing with more than 1,400 reported outages affecting almost 125,000 customers, warning that most of those in the hardest hit area “may be without power overnight.”
The outages came after Environment Canada issued freezing rain warnings for swaths of Ontario and Quebec, starting on the northwestern shore of Lake Huron, extending as far south as Burlington, Ont, and as far east as Lac Megantic, Que.
The highest amounts of freezing rain are forecast around Bracebridge, just north of Barrie, including Midland and Orillia, and southeast through Peterborough to Kingston, with 10 to 20 mm expected, while some heavier pockets within those zones could see 20 to 40 mm.
The national weather agency anticipates a prolonged period of freezing rain in Toronto with possible ice accumulation reaching 2 to 4 millimetres. It also warns the public about potential power outages, slippery roads, and broken tree branches caused by the ice buildup.
TTC officials say they are monitoring the weather conditions, noting crews have been out salting stations and applying anti-icing agent on tracks.
The temperature on Saturday night is expected to hold steady in Toronto between 0 C and 1 C, with winds gusting up to 40 km/h. The temperature is forecast to pick up on Sunday with a possible high of 5 C.
With significant rain also expected, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has issued a water safety statement warning that local streams and rivers may become unsafe, especially in the vicinity of culverts, bridges, and dams.
“People are warned to stay away from all watercourses and to keep children and pets away,” the TRCA says.
The City of Toronto says crews are checking and clearing catch basins in low-lying areas to try and prevent the potential for flooding. Salters are also on standby, ready to be deployed as soon as any freezing rain begins.
Provincial police have advised against unnecessary travel over the weekend, saying the roads would likely be slippery.
