Snow, ice creating tricky driving conditions
Published on Friday, 13 January 2012 13:56 | | 
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Motorists are being urged to travel with care because of a weather system that is bringing a dangerous mix of snow, strong winds and falling temperatures over a large part of Ontario on Friday.Untreated roads may be icy, snow packed and slippery, and visibility may be limited by blowing snow. Pedestrians should also tread carefully because sidewalks may be slippery, police said.Several collisions have been reported in southern Ontario, including a six-vehicle pileup that has shut down Highway 401's ice-covered eastbound lanes at Dundas Street in Woodstock. In that crash, a tractor-trailer struck a fire truck as emergency crews were tending to a rolled vehicle and vehicles in the ditch. OPP said several people suffered minor injuries. There have been multiple reports of vehicles crashing into guardrails and sliding into highway ditches.Thirty crashes in 30 minutes At 7:15 a.m., Ontario Provincial Police told that 30 collisions were reported in the previous 30 minutes, including many in the Greater Toronto and Kitchener areas.Woodford said highway on- and off-ramps are very slippery, so people should slow down and drive with care.Because of the messy conditions, significant traffic delays are being reported on major highways.People should give themselves extra time to reach their destination, and leave plenty of room between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them, just in case they have to hit the brakes, police said.Southern portions of the GTA will see a mix of light snow flurries and ice pellets as the temperature hovers near the freezing mark in the morning.Additional snowfall is expected until the early evening hours as the temperature steadily drops. In Toronto, it's expected to be about -6 C in the evening. Overnight, the temperature will drop to -13 C without the wind chill.Toronto won't see much snow, as only one centimetre is expected. Outer portions of the GTA will see about three centimetres, while snowfall amounts will be greater to the north and east of the city.Environment Canada previously said regions east of Georgian Bay may be the hardest hit with as much as 15 centimetres of snow. Snow squall warnings may be issued.Communities between Timmins and North Bay may see as much as 20 centimetres, while the St. Lawrence Valley could be hit with up to 15 centimetres.Some still without power in eastern OntarioFreezing rain warnings are in effect in eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Cornwall and Brockville.About 8,300 Hydro One customers are still without power in the Kingston and Picton areas following a freezing rain storm that downed power lines and trees Thursday. Electricity will likely be restored late Friday night, Hydro One said.At the storm's peak, about 19,000 customers were in the dark.Source: CP24
