Freezing rain warning in effect for the region

As of 6:59 AM EST Friday, Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning for North Bay - Powassan - Mattawa and West Nipissing - French River

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Freezing rain likely across the district today.

A large area of precipitation will is moving into Northern Ontario as expected. Precipitation is expected to begin as freezing rain or ice pellets before changing over to plain rain. A weather spotter reported freezing rain and slippery roads in the Fort Frances area earlier this morning. At any given location, the freezing rain is not expected to last more than a few hours.

For areas very close to the Lake Superior shoreline, precipitation will be in the form of plain rain with only a risk of freezing rain.

Hazardous driving conditions are expected as untreated roads may quickly become icy and slippery.

A Colorado low is expected to move into Minnesota today then across Northern Ontario to Southern James Bay Saturday with a major winter storm expected in Northwestern Ontario as a result.

Elsewhere freezing rain is expected before changing over to rain as a mild air mass is pumped up from the Gulf of Mexico by southerly winds.

Motorists should be prepared for hazardous winter driving conditions.