Freezing rain warning calls for a ‘prolonged period’ of freezing rain, ice pellets in Ottawa Sunday

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Preparing for snow and freezing rain in Ottawa region

Significant winter storm on the way

A freezing rain warning remains in effect for Ottawa today, with a “prolonged period” of freezing rain expected to coat the capital with up to 10 millimetres of ice.

It’s the second of two winter storms to hit during the final weekend of March, after 25 centimetres of snow fell Friday night and Saturday.

“Freezing rain is forecast to continue until early this evening,” Environment Canada said in the freezing rain warning.

“Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance. Beware of branches or electrical wires that could break under the weight of ice.”

Environment Canada says the freezing rain will change to showers this evening.

Ontario Provincial Police are urging motorists to adjust their driving to the conditions today with freezing rain expected to make roads slippery.

• More than 8 injuries in crash on Hwy. 416, nearly 70 collisions in eastern Ontario: Icy roads

The freezing rain warning covers all of eastern Ontario, including Cornwall, Prescott, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville and the Ottawa Valley. Environment Canada says some areas could see 15 to 20 mm of ice accretion.

Police responded to dozens of crashes on roads and highways across eastern Ontario on Saturday following the snowstorm. Between midnight and 9 a.m., police responded to close to 100 collisions in eastern Ontario as a result of icy road conditions. A major crash between two tractor trailers and a car has left one person dead on Highway 138 in the Township of North Stormont.

Environment Canada says 25 centimetres of snow was recorded at the Ottawa Airport Friday night and Saturday morning. A total of 13 cm of snow was reported in the Kanata area.

Kemptville received 20 to 30 cm of snow, while about 5 mm of ice had been reported in the Kingston area.

The City of Ottawa says crews are focusing on clearing and treating sidewalks, priority roads and the winter cycling network following the overnight snowfall.

“Across the city and where required, crews will move into residential neighbourhoods this morning to clear and treat streets. Supervisors will continue to monitor the conditions of the transportation network throughout the day and into the overnight,” Quentin Levesque, Director of Roads and Parking Services, said in a memo to council.

“As the freezing rain moves in early tomorrow morning, our focus will be monitoring changing conditions and treating sidewalks, priority roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network.”

Bryden Denyes, area manager of Ottawa roads, says resources will be deployed as fast as possible to clear the transportation network.

“Our main focus is our priority road network, our sidewalks, and we’re starting to get into residential, road plowing where it is required. Now, our main focus is the current storm but we are ready to transition,“ Denyes said Saturday.

He says freezing rain needs to be tackled quickly.

“When we enter into a freezing rain event, the ice covers everything at the same time, so we have to get over the whole transportation network as fast as we can and apply our deicing agent, which is our salt, to everything in the transportation network.”

Denyes says people should consider staying close to home if the weather is difficult.

“If you don’t have to be out during the freezing rain event, that is very helpful for our crews to really give them space to work.”

Traffic Services staff will be monitoring traffic signals and managing mobility implications, “with on-call personnel prepared for controller and signal issues.”

Connor Steel, co-owner of Genuine Automotive Service, has been receiving calls from customers to change their appointments to change their winter tires.

“A lot of people have called in and asked very politely to reschedule or push to next week,” Steel said.

“They feel a little better having their winters on still. So absolutely, we’re here to serve and they want to keep them on, and that’s fine. We’ll be here next week.”

Digging out his east end home, Sylvain Lanois says he was hoping the end of March would bring the end of winter weather.

“Hopefully this is the last one! I’m done with this,” he said, laughing. “Mother Nature! Please.”

Hydro Ottawa

Hydro Ottawa says crews will be on standby and “ready to respond if necessary” if the snow and ice accumulation damages hydro infrastructure and knocks out power.

The utility offers the following tips to prepare for the storm:

• Gather items for an emergency kit that includes things like: medicine, first aid supplies, flashlights, new batteries, a battery-operated radio, a manual can opener, canned food, bottled water, blankets, food for pets, and important documents and telephone numbers.
• Charge mobile devices and laptops.
• For those requiring an uninterrupted supply of power for specialized medical equipment, ensure there is a back-up supply in place or a plan to relocate to a facility that can provide assistance.
• For those with mobile disabilities and live in a building that requires the use of an elevator, be sure to inform the building’s management that their assistance may be required.
• Install a backup power supply for sump pumps. This will help avoid flooding during power outages.

If you see a downed power line, Hydro Ottawa says stay at least 10 metres away from the wires and any objects that are in contact with the lines.

Flood watch

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has issued a Flood Watch for lakes in the Upper Rideau Valley Watershed, particularly Bobs Lake and Christie Lake, and along the Rideau River from Smiths Falls to Manotick.

Officials say the precipitation and additional snowmelt may contribute to “further increases” in water levels.

“With limited capacity remaining within the upper reservoirs, increasing water levels may exceed full supply levels and result in flooding within low-lying areas,” the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority said in a statement.

“All water levels and flows across the Rideau Valley Watershed may increase with possible flooding in low-lying areas, including ditches, swales and stormwater features.”

Officials say there could be flooding in low-lying areas near Bobs Lake, Christie Lake and along the Long Reach of the Rideau River.

The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board says water levels and flows are above normal along the Ottawa River, but levels are expected to continue decreasing.

Ottawa forecast

Environment Canada’s forecast calls for freezing rain today. High 0 C.

Showers tonight, with a risk of a thunderstorm overnight. Low 0 C.

Showers ending near noon on Monday then cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers. High 17 C.

Sunshine on Tuesday.

The outlook for Wednesday calls for increasing cloudiness. High -1 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 7 C and a low of -3 C.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Toula Mazloum, Natalie van Rooy and Kimberley Johnson