Orange Freezing Rain Warning Issued for Woodstock, Tillsonburg, and Oxford County

Alert Details

Environment Canada has issued an orange warning for freezing rain for the Woodstock, Tillsonburg, and Oxford County regions. The alert indicates a high likelihood of significant ice build-up throughout the day on Wednesday.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic focus of this warning includes:

• Woodstock
• Tillsonburg
• Oxford County

Forecasters note that the most hazardous conditions are expected in areas of higher elevation. Regions closer to Lake Huron may experience less impact as temperatures are expected to rise above the freezing mark.

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to take the following precautions:

• Exercise extreme caution on roads and walkways, which are expected to become icy and slippery.
• Prepare for potential utility outages and tree damage due to the combination of ice weight and wind.
• Monitor local forecasts for updates.
• Report severe weather by emailing [email protected] or using the hashtag #ONStorm on X.

Expected Conditions

The storm is expected to bring several hours of freezing rain. Specific hazards include:

• Ice Accretion: 5 to 10 mm is likely, with localized amounts reaching up to 15 mm.
• Wind: Easterly winds gusting up to 60 km/h.
• Impacts: Significant impact on rush hour traffic and a high risk of injury from slips and falls.

Timeline

The freezing rain is expected to begin overnight or early Wednesday morning, February 18. Conditions are forecast to taper off by Wednesday evening.