CORNWALL, Ontario – Environment Canada is forecasting a messy end to the week with mixes of rain, freezing rain and snow going into the weekend starting Thursday, Feb. 17.
“A low pressure system is expected to track northeast across Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Thursday night which will bring a messy mix of wintry precipitation to southern Ontario. Precipitation will likely begin as rain this evening (Wednesday), transition to freezing rain or ice pellets Thursday and then to snow Thursday night,” reads a Special Weather Statement from Environment Canada. “At this time the track of this low pressure system is uncertain, and as such precipitation type, timing and amounts may change.”
Environment Canada predicts rainfall between 15 and 25 centimeters.
The rain will be followed by freezing rain and ice pellets before turning into snow on Friday, with between 10 and 20 centimeters of accumulation expected.
According to The Weather Network rain is expected to start falling in the Cornwall area at around 1 a.m. on Thursday morning and will continue throughout the day into Thursday evening, becoming mixed precipitation and then snow until mid-Friday morning.
Temperatures on Thursday are expected to be a high of five degrees Celsius with a low of minus eight. Friday expect a high of only minus 16 degrees with a low of minus 18. More snow on Saturday, between two and four centimeters with a high of minus nine and a low of minus 15. Cloudy on Sunday with temperatures around zero degress Celsius.
In response to the predicted precipitation and higher than normal temperatures on Thursday, the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) has issued a Water Safety Statement.
“At this time, flooding is not expected. However, please be aware that water conditions may change quickly in the coming days and high water flows, melting ice, and slippery conditions around water could be dangerous. Caution should be exercised near waterbodies. Parents should inform their children of the risks and provide appropriate supervision,” the statement from the RRCA reads.
