Freezing rain warning still in effect

As of 3:38 PM EST Saturday 26 December 2009 Environment Canada issued the following Freezing rain warning for the North Bay - Powassan - Mattawa areas.

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Freezing rain is expected to continue for a few more hours over areas mainly east of North Bay, including the Mattawa region. The precipitation is expected to change to snow by early evening before tapering off after midnight.

This is a warning that an extended period of freezing rain is imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.

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..2 to 4 hours of freezing rain expected this evening and overnight..

This is a warning that an extended period of freezing rain is imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.

The combined effects of a deep storm over Iowa and a large Arctic high pressure system over Northern Québec will produce all the necessary ingredients for an extended period of freezing for many localities from north of Lake Superior and Lake Huron eastward to the Québec border. The freezing rain has been affecting regions adjacent to Lake Superior is changing to snow around Thunder Bay. The freezing rain will spread into regions north of Lake Huron and continue progressing towards the Chapleau, Kirkland Lake and New Liskeard areas before changing to rain or wet snow overnight.

In most localities the freezing rain should last for 2 to 4 hours yielding freezing rain amounts in the range of 2 to 5 millimetres although the exact location of these amounts will very dramatically with local topography. Lesser amounts are likely for areas adjacent to the Great Lakes while locally higher amounts are possible for locales near the Québec border.

Freezing rain will make untreated road surfaces and sidewalks potentially hazardous. Travellers and pedestrians alike are advised to take extreme caution and allow for extra time to reach their destinations.

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