Several hours of freezing rain expected in Waterloo region, Guelph and area on Tuesday

Tuesday is expected to be a slippery one as Environment Canada is warning freezing rain is expected over the course of several hours.

A special weather statement says a low pressure system is moving through the region. The freezing rain is expected to begin in the morning and continue right into the evening with up to five millimeters expected.

The rain is expected to be mixed with snow or ice pellets at times and will change over the snow later in the day.

"Roads and walkways may become icy and slippery. Icy surfaces could be difficult to detect," the special weather statement says.

The freezing rain follows a heavy snowfall on Monday, which prompted Cambridge to declare a snow event.

The freezing rain is expected as temperatures are forecasted to rise above freezing on Tuesday and throughout the week, with rain and a high of 6 C anticipated on Friday.

There's no sunshine in the forecast, though, with cloudy skies expected for the foreseeable future, the Environment Canada weather page shows.

Stay off ice, GRCA warns

With the temperatures in flux, the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is reminding people to stay off ponds, rivers or streams because the conditions could be unsafe.

The authority said colder temperatures have allowed ice to form, there are too many other factors such as daily changes in temperature, wind, precipitation and underwater currents that "greatly affect ice conditions."

"The ice can break easily and should not be used for any winter activity. Higher flows will continue to weaken ice sheets where they have formed," the authority said in a release Friday.

"Snow on top of the ice can hide weak spots and slow the ice from freezing properly."

Ice fishing is not yet open at any GRCA parks.

"Recent warm, wet weather has led to significant runoff and increased water levels and flows in the Grand River watershed," the authority said.

"GRCA major reservoirs were used to reduce downstream flood impacts. Water levels will remain elevated into next week as runoff stored in these reservoirs is gradually discharged."