Dangerous travel in Ontario as Boxing Day snow, ice arrive

Flexible plans are in the forecast for your Boxing Day on Friday as an impactful wintry mix is set to move into southern Ontario.

A messy temperature divide will set the stage for accumulating snow, ice pellets, and prolonged freezing rain. Travel issues are likely, and residents are urged to keep tabs on highway conditions before heading out.

DON’T MISS: Freezing rain and ice pellets are dangerous winter hazards

Wintry mix threatens snow and ice in southern Ontario

A strong, moisture-laden low-pressure system will move into the Great Lakes region into the day Friday, pushing a surge of precipitation across southern Ontario through the day.

Even though temperatures at ground level will register at or below freezing, a layer of warm air aloft will turn this system into an icy mess with freezing rain and ice pellets in the forecast for many communities throughout the region.

There’s still a fair deal of uncertainty surrounding exact precipitation types and totals. Air temperatures shifting just 0.5°C can make all the difference in a delicate wintry mix setup.

Snow: Folks in northern Ontario, cottage country, and eastern Ontario should remain all snow for the duration of this system. Expect a swath of 5-20 cm of accumulation, depending on where the heaviest bands of snow set up.

Ice pellets may mix in with the snow on Friday evening around Niagara, Toronto, Oshawa, and Barrie, which would limit snowfall totals as the system exits the area Saturday morning.

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Ice pellets: These tiny beads of ice form when a snowflake partially melts and then refreezes before hitting the ground.

We will likely see a swath of accumulating ice pellets in southwestern Ontario around Sarnia and London through the day Friday. Residents are advised to clear ice pellet accumulations as soon as safely possible, as it can quickly freeze into a solid sheet of ice.

Freezing rain: Liquid raindrops that freeze into a crust of ice on contact with exposed surfaces can pose a significant hazard to drivers and pedestrians.

A prolonged period of freezing rain, as much as 5 to 10 hours, is in the forecast in southwestern Ontario around Windsor and Chatham.

Even a small glaze of ice from freezing rain can make roads and sidewalks dangerously slick. Thicker crusts of ice could lead to scattered branch damage and power outages.

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Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario.

WATCH: What’s the difference between freezing rain and ice pellets?

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