PHOTOS: Ice coats the roads in parts of Ontario as wintry mix hits
Drivers across southern Ontario were hit with challenging weather conditions Wednesday, as a mix of ice, freezing rain, and rain hit the region just in time for the afternoon and evening commutes.
With slippery roads ensuing, drivers were urged to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety. The combination of icy surfaces and wet roads created hazardous driving conditions Wednesday, and may linger into Thursday, making it essential for motorists to be prepared and adjust their driving habits accordingly.
Here are some tips to help you navigate the roads safely during these challenging weather conditions:
Firstly, you should allow extra travel time. Due to slippery roads and increased traffic, we recommend leaving earlier than usual to avoid rushing and reduce the risk of accidents caused by speeding or sudden maneuvers. You are better off arriving a few minutes early than risking your and others' safety.
Secondly, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. When roads are wet or icy, it takes longer to stop, and sudden braking could result in skidding or loss of control. By keeping a safe distance, you'll have enough time and space to react to any unexpected situations.
SEE ALSO: 'Common sense' driving tips to help steer through Canada's winter
Finally, be sure to use your vehicle's headlights appropriately, since rain and icy conditions can reduce visibility. Besides helping you see the road better, this will also make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, reducing accidents.
The type of precipitation that will fall across southern Ontario will depend on the location due to the varying temperatures. You'll want to check your local forecast frequently for the latest updates.
The following is a selection of what is currently making the rounds on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. #ONstorm #ONwx #Orillia pic.twitter.com/mnHFdEnVgJ
Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. Nathan Howes TWN on Twitter: "Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. #ONstorm #ONwx #Orillia pic.twitter.com/mnHFdEnVgJ / Twitter" Nathan Howes TWN on Twitter: "Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. #ONstorm #ONwx #Orillia pic.twitter.com/mnHFdEnVgJ / Twitter" Nathan Howes TWN on Twitter: "Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. #ONstorm #ONwx #Orillia pic.twitter.com/mnHFdEnVgJ / Twitter" Nathan Howes TWN on Twitter: "Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. #ONstorm #ONwx #Orillia pic.twitter.com/mnHFdEnVgJ / Twitter"
— Nathan Howes TWN (@HowesNathan) Nathan Howes TWN on Twitter: "Ice accretion is building now! You can really hear the crunch sound as I walk. Roads are really slippery, even to walk on. Take it slow while driving, if you have to travel. That will make for difficult navigating. #ONstorm #ONwx #Orillia pic.twitter.com/mnHFdEnVgJ / Twitter"
This should be a fun commute home. #ONStorm #freezingrain 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4h6f3wBbIa
This should be a fun commute home. Kirk MacDonald on Twitter: "This should be a fun commute home. #ONStorm #freezingrain 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4h6f3wBbIa / Twitter" Kirk MacDonald on Twitter: "This should be a fun commute home. #ONStorm #freezingrain 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4h6f3wBbIa / Twitter" 🙄 Kirk MacDonald on Twitter: "This should be a fun commute home. #ONStorm #freezingrain 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4h6f3wBbIa / Twitter"
— Kirk MacDonald (@KirkMacDonald5) Kirk MacDonald on Twitter: "This should be a fun commute home. #ONStorm #freezingrain 🙄 pic.twitter.com/4h6f3wBbIa / Twitter"
Had a more substantial icing event in London today than I was initially expecting! After numerous hours of steady freezing rain at CYXU and temps between -0.2/-0.3C, a heavy glaze of ice was noted on objects abv ground. I estimate we peaked at 4-5mm ice accretion. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/hKvKiawcnI
Had a more substantial icing event in London today than I was initially expecting! After numerous hours of steady freezing rain at CYXU and temps between -0.2/-0.3C, a heavy glaze of ice was noted on objects abv ground. I estimate we peaked at 4-5mm ice accretion. David Piano on Twitter: "Had a more substantial icing event in London today than I was initially expecting! After numerous hours of steady freezing rain at CYXU and temps between -0.2/-0.3C, a heavy glaze of ice was noted on objects abv ground. I estimate we peaked at 4-5mm ice accretion. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/hKvKiawcnI / Twitter" David Piano on Twitter: "Had a more substantial icing event in London today than I was initially expecting! After numerous hours of steady freezing rain at CYXU and temps between -0.2/-0.3C, a heavy glaze of ice was noted on objects abv ground. I estimate we peaked at 4-5mm ice accretion. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/hKvKiawcnI / Twitter"
The rain is getting a bit ... bouncy ... now here in Guelph. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/1GRED6BRNM
The rain is getting a bit … bouncy … now here in Guelph. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The rain is getting a bit ... bouncy ... now here in Guelph. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/1GRED6BRNM / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The rain is getting a bit ... bouncy ... now here in Guelph. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/1GRED6BRNM / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The rain is getting a bit ... bouncy ... now here in Guelph. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/1GRED6BRNM / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The rain is getting a bit ... bouncy ... now here in Guelph. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/1GRED6BRNM / Twitter"
City Streets: NB Don Mills is blocked north of the DVP due to a collision & SB traffic is reduced to one lane. Delays in both directions. pic.twitter.com/Ssa3hB0Wmr
City Streets: NB Don Mills is blocked north of the DVP due to a collision & SB traffic is reduced to one lane. Delays in both directions. CityNews Toronto Traffic & Weather on Twitter: "City Streets: NB Don Mills is blocked north of the DVP due to a collision & SB traffic is reduced to one lane. Delays in both directions. pic.twitter.com/Ssa3hB0Wmr / Twitter"
— CityNews Toronto Traffic & Weather (@citynews680) CityNews Toronto Traffic & Weather on Twitter: "City Streets: NB Don Mills is blocked north of the DVP due to a collision & SB traffic is reduced to one lane. Delays in both directions. pic.twitter.com/Ssa3hB0Wmr / Twitter"
ONStorm #ONwx Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: https://t.co/jBHLZUCr33- Brennen pic.twitter.com/6Cmz8p6wim
Instant Weather Ontario ⚡️ on Twitter: "#ONStorm #ONwx Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: https://t.co/jBHLZUCr33- Brennen pic.twitter.com/6Cmz8p6wim / Twitter" Instant Weather Ontario ⚡️ on Twitter: "#ONStorm #ONwx Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: https://t.co/jBHLZUCr33- Brennen pic.twitter.com/6Cmz8p6wim / Twitter" Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.
Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: Instant Weather Ontario ⚡️ on Twitter: "#ONStorm #ONwx Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: https://t.co/jBHLZUCr33- Brennen pic.twitter.com/6Cmz8p6wim / Twitter"
- Brennen Instant Weather Ontario ⚡️ on Twitter: "#ONStorm #ONwx Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: https://t.co/jBHLZUCr33- Brennen pic.twitter.com/6Cmz8p6wim / Twitter"— Instant Weather Ontario ⚡️ (@IWeatherON) Instant Weather Ontario ⚡️ on Twitter: "#ONStorm #ONwx Freezing rain has started in Ailsa Craig (near London) with a thin layer of ice accretion already visible on surfaces.Picture from Colin taken at 12:20 PM via Ontario Storm Reports: https://t.co/jBHLZUCr33- Brennen pic.twitter.com/6Cmz8p6wim / Twitter"
Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near #MitchellUntreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.#OnWx #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/fHJa6z0tEN
Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near WxOntario on Twitter: "Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near #MitchellUntreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.#OnWx #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/fHJa6z0tEN / Twitter"
Untreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.WxOntario on Twitter: "Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near #MitchellUntreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.#OnWx #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/fHJa6z0tEN / Twitter" WxOntario on Twitter: "Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near #MitchellUntreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.#OnWx #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/fHJa6z0tEN / Twitter" WxOntario on Twitter: "Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near #MitchellUntreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.#OnWx #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/fHJa6z0tEN / Twitter"— WxOntario (@WxOntario1) WxOntario on Twitter: "Thick accumulation of ice pellets and freezing rain on elevated surfaces near #MitchellUntreated roadways beginning to see ice build up.#OnWx #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/fHJa6z0tEN / Twitter"
All ice pellets now in Fergus. Lots and lots of ice pellets. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/LBPmnebPcO
All ice pellets now in Fergus. Lots and lots of ice pellets. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "All ice pellets now in Fergus. Lots and lots of ice pellets. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/LBPmnebPcO / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "All ice pellets now in Fergus. Lots and lots of ice pellets. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/LBPmnebPcO / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "All ice pellets now in Fergus. Lots and lots of ice pellets. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/LBPmnebPcO / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "All ice pellets now in Fergus. Lots and lots of ice pellets. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/LBPmnebPcO / Twitter"
Made it to Fergus and the rain is now icy and freezing. I'm getting ice pellets and freezing rain at the same time. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jZHRTxKY52
Made it to Fergus and the rain is now icy and freezing. I’m getting ice pellets and freezing rain at the same time. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Made it to Fergus and the rain is now icy and freezing. I'm getting ice pellets and freezing rain at the same time. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jZHRTxKY52 / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Made it to Fergus and the rain is now icy and freezing. I'm getting ice pellets and freezing rain at the same time. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jZHRTxKY52 / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Made it to Fergus and the rain is now icy and freezing. I'm getting ice pellets and freezing rain at the same time. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jZHRTxKY52 / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Made it to Fergus and the rain is now icy and freezing. I'm getting ice pellets and freezing rain at the same time. @weathernetwork #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jZHRTxKY52 / Twitter"
(Header image courtesy of Mark Robinson/The Weather Network)
