Environment Canada forecasting ‘potent spring ice storm’ this weekend
By Jake Davies - West Carleton Online
WEST CARLETON – Environment Canada and Climate Change staff are tracking a potentially “potent spring ice storm,” that could arrive in West Carleton by Friday (March 28).
“Potent spring ice storm likely,” Environment Canada released in a statement today (March 26). “Significant ice accretion from freezing rain, with general amounts of five to 15 millimetres. Accretion amounts in excess of 20 mm are possible over some areas.”
Local snowfall and ice pellet accumulations of five to 15 centimetres, mainly for central and northeastern Ontario.
“Possible utility outages,” Environment Canada said. “Slippery surfaces and broken tree branches from ice build-up.”
Environment Canada says the storm should arrive late Friday through Monday (March 31).
“Confidence is increasing in a widespread, prolonged freezing rain event over portions of southern and northeastern Ontario,” Environment Canada said. “The swath of maximum ice accretion is still uncertain at this point, but confidence is highest for areas of central and eastern Ontario between Parry Sound and Kingston. Warnings will be issued as the event draws nearer. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada.”
To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca.
Winchester-based storm chaser, forecaster and photographer Connor Mockett has also been tracking the storm.
“I will have more information in the coming days, but it’s better to say this now than later, this weekend’s storm set-up screams trouble,” Mockett released in a statement today. “There is still time for things to change, but the time to get prepared is now. Remember April 5, 2023, and the big ice storm that happened? This is potentially that level, if not much more. The numbers are staggering right now. Generators will be very, very handy for this one.”
Mockett focuses his forecasts on eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley.
“Environment Canada is already forecasting the potential for an ice storm with a duration as much as 72 hours,” Mockett said. “And don’t forget this either; there’ll be a bunch of snow first before the freezing rain.”
You can find Mockett’s Facebook page here.
