A significant freezing rainstorm is poised to potentially cause widespread disruptions in western Quebec from Wednesday into Thursday, as indicated by orange-level weather advisories for the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Environment Canada’s forecast predicts a range of two to three centimetres of freezing rain beginning at approximately 6 a.m. on Wednesday, spanning from Gatineau up to Maniwaki and extending eastward to the Montreal vicinity. The agency anticipates prolonged power outages and considerable property damage, advising residents to refrain from non-essential travel.
The City of Gatineau has specified that the most severe freezing rain conditions are expected to occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday. In other parts of western Quebec and northern eastern Ontario under similar warnings, one to two centimetres of freezing rain may be experienced, although this does not directly correlate to the amount of ice accumulation. Consequently, localized power outages are anticipated in areas such as the Outaouais, including Shawville and Fort-Coulonge, prompting a suggestion to postpone non-essential travel plans.
For eastern Ontario, encompassing locations north of Highway 7 and stretching towards the St. Lawrence River and Cornwall, a mixture of rain and freezing rain is likely, particularly in southern areas. This weather event is expected to resemble the severity of the April 2023 ice storm that previously struck the region, according to Eric Tomlinson, a meteorologist from Environment Canada.
Moreover, communities positioned south of the aforementioned warnings should prepare for 20 to 40 millimetres of rain, with a possibility of intermittent transitions between rain and freezing rain in areas north and east of Kingston. Additional freezing rain alerts, denoted at a yellow level, are in effect for regions like Brockville and Tweed, while a rainfall warning extends to Mallorytown and surrounding areas like Belleville and Kingston.
In light of the forecasted weather conditions, the Ottawa-Gatineau region is advised to brace for temperatures hovering near freezing from Tuesday night through Thursday. Orange warnings from Environment Canada signify severe weather situations likely to cause significant disruptions, with the 1998 ice storm serving as an example of a more extreme red-level event.
Due to the impending ice storm, numerous schools across the Outaouais region will remain closed on Wednesday, including those within the Draveurs, Portages-de-l’Outaouais, Cœur-des-Vallées, and Hauts-Bois-de-l’Outaouais school service centers, as well as institutions under the Western Québec School Board and various private schools such as Collège St-Joseph in Hull and Collège Saint-Alexandre.
To prepare for the upcoming inclement weather, residents are encouraged to assemble emergency kits containing essential supplies like non-perishable food, batteries, booster cables, a first aid kit, sand or kitty litter for traction, flashlights, and blankets. Additionally, precautions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning should be observed during this period of heightened weather alert.