Freezing rain, snow expected in northeastern Ont.

Rick Wyman has the latest forecast for what is expected to be a wintry weekend in northeastern Ontario.

After a break Saturday, more winter weather is expected Sunday, Environment Canada says.

Areas in and around Greater Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie are under a freezing rain warning.

The City of Greater Sudbury declared a ‘significant weather event’ at 8 a.m. Sunday morning due to “existing or potential hazardous storm conditions.”

“All roads and sidewalks maintained by the city are considered in a ‘state of repair’ until further notice,” the city said in a news release.

“This declaration is not necessarily a notice of a reduced level of service or a road closure; it is to notify drivers and pedestrians to use an appropriate level of caution when travelling during this event and avoid unnecessary travel.”

Leisure programs and GOVA transit schedules may be impacted as a result as well.

This is the second time this weekend the city declared a significant weather event.

Meanwhile, Timmins, could see a significant snowstorm.

Prolonged periods of freezing rain is expected, Environment Canada said in an update Sunday, with accumulations up to 20 mm.

“Another weather system will affect northeastern Ontario beginning late tonight,” the warning Saturday afternoon said.

As temperatures rise above freezing Sunday afternoon, freezing rain may change to rain near the North Channel and in the City of North Bay.

“Precipitation will transition to ice pellets and then snow from west to east Monday morning,” the weather alert said Sunday morning.

“Easterly winds will become northerly on Monday morning with gusts up to 50 km/h. This may exacerbate the situation if there is ice build-up on tree limbs and power lines.”

Snow changing to freezing rain

“Precipitation may begin as snow or ice pellets before changing to freezing rain. ... Travel will be very hazardous.”

That means utility outages are possible along with slippery surfaces and broken tree branches from ice buildup.

The weather event is expected to begin near midnight or early Sunday morning continuing into early Monday.

“For some areas, temperatures may rise above the freezing mark Sunday night with freezing rain changing to rain,” Environment Canada said.

Easterly to northeasterly winds will become northerly with gusts up to 50 km/h on Monday morning. This may exacerbate the situation if there is ice build-up on tree limbs and power lines. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and extremely hazardous."

For the Timmins area, up to 20 cm of snow is possible, along with a risk of freezing rain.

“Depending on the track of the low-pressure system, some areas may see a changeover to ice pellets or freezing rain,” Environment Canada said.

“Regardless of precipitation type, hazardous travel conditions are likely. Conditions should improve by Monday morning as the weather system exits the province.”