Freezing rain expected to hit Ottawa area Sunday night

The Ottawa-Gatineau area could be hit with a serious bout of freezing rain Sunday evening, Environment Canada is warning.

The weather agency has issued an orange-level warning for the nation's capital, as well as most of eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

In Ottawa, "significant" freezing rain is expected to begin tomorrow night and continue into Monday morning, Environment Canada said. Ice accretion could be between 15 and 20 millimetres.

Travel will be hazardous and prolonged power outages are likely, the agency said. Non-essential trips should be postponed.

As of late Saturday afternoon, the orange-level warning also covered communities like Cornwall, Pembroke, Renfrew, Perth, Gananoque and Bancroft, plus the entirety of the Outaouais.

A yellow-level warning was in place for the Kingston, Napanee and Belleville areas.

Environment Canada recently switched to a new colour-coded weather alert system, one that better aligns with recommendations from the World Meteorological Association.

Weather warnings are now issued in three colours of ascending severity: yellow, orange and red.