Blend of weather alerts for Simcoe Muskoka includes freezing rain, snow squalls, heavy winds

Ice on tree branches is shown in this file image from the 2025 Ice Storm in Barrie, Ont., on Sun., March 30, 2025.

The forecast for Sunday across Simcoe Muskoka and central Ontario has become a cocktail of weather alerts that includes freezing rain, heavy rain and snow squalls.

It started with Environment Canada issuing a freezing rain special weather statement for the region on Saturday before upgrading it to a yellow warning. By Saturday evening, the weather agency added a yellow warning for heavy rainfall.

Now that Sunday has arrived, some areas in Simcoe Muskoka are under upwards of four weather alerts.

Simcoe County

Barrie and most of Simcoe County is under an orange freezing rain warning, an orange snow squall warning, a yellow rainfall warning and a special weather statement for heavy winds.

Environment Canada expects the precipitation to begin with ‘significant’ freezing rain at around noon, bringing four to eight millimetres of ice accretion, before changing to rain later in the day.

The weather agency says roads and walkways will likely become icy and slippery and utility outages are possible.

Then, as the temperatures rise, a mix of heavy rain and melting snow is expected to bring 15 to 30 millimetres of rainfall.

Environment Canada reminds that frozen ground has reduced ability to absorb rainfall, therefore, storm drains should be cleared of snow and ice.

Finally, the weather agency says heavy winds could bring gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour on Monday, and snow squalls could bring up to 30 centimeres of snow by Tuesday morning.

Areas in upper York Region are also under an orange warning for freezing rain, a yellow warning for rainfall and a special weather statement for heavy winds.

Muskoka

‘Only’ a yellow freezing rain warning is in effect for Bracebridge and Gravenhurst, but greater ice accretion levels are expected, as they could reach upwards of 15 millimetres.

Environment Canada also expects the freezing rain to continue into early Monday morning, possibly bringing ‘prolonged’ utility outages. The weather agency adds that weighted ice could cause ‘significant’ damage to property, buildings and trees.

The Huntsville area, meanwhile, is under a winter storm warning. Between Sunday and Monday night, it could experience up to 15 millimetres of ice accretion, 15 centimetres of snow, and winds gusting up to 70 kilometres per hour.

Bottom Line

Almost the entire eastern half of Ontario is under either orange warnings or yellow warnings for significant weather.

They are more winter storm related in the north, rainfall related in the south (including the Greater Toronto Area) and freezing rain related in the east. There are nearly 20 total weather warnings across the country.

The OPP issued a statement Sunday morning encouraging motorists to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Those who do need to travel are urged to prepare for low visibility and slippery conditions, slow down, and allow for extra time to reach their destination.