Freezing rain creating potential hazards for first day of Spring: OPP

WATERLOO REGION – While it may not be snow or a torrential downpour, some freezing rain has welcomed Waterloo Region into Spring, and even though it may not be as hazardous as a snowstorm, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is still out with some reminders about the potential dangers on that commute.

A yellow-level freezing rain warning is in effect across Waterloo Region and, according to Environment Canada, it will persist throughout much of the morning.

It said temperatures will begin to rise heading through to the afternoon and make way for regular showers heading into the weekend, but with lows of -5 C overnight and some below seasonal temperatures expected through much of the beginning of Spring, further impactful freezing rain is still a future possibility.

“Depending on where you live here in southwestern Ontario and west region, your community may experience some freezing rain,” said OPP sergeant Ed Sanchuk. “The OPP would just like to put out a friendly reminder to the motoring public to please reduce your speed.”

He said it’s all about remembering that, it may officially be Spring, but it doesn’t mean Winter will be leaving too quietly at times as the region pushes through the rest of March, with patches of flurries and possible freezing rain still a possibility.

“Drive according to the weather conditions, leave enough time, room, and distance between you and other vehicles,” Sanchuk stated. “More importantly, just get home safely to your families.”

Unpredictable start to Spring incoming

Looking ahead, the start to spring appears to be a bit unpredictable heading into March and the beginning of April, with Environment Canada showing clouds, sunshine, rain, flurries, and fluctuating temperatures even through the last full week of March.

On the bright side, even with some inconsistent weather patterns, the temperatures and conditions don’t appear headed for any extremes in either direction.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the single digits on both the positive and negative ends of the scale, with the current high being 8 C for Sunday, but temperatures only reaching a high of -1 C the next day, for Monday.

It means those mittens, umbrellas, and sunglasses will all need to be at the ready as the region pushes into Spring, but luckily, the shovel may be getting ready for its long-term cavation in the coming weeks.