Police agencies across Ontario are urging motorists to drive with caution - if they have to venture onto the roads at all - because falling temperatures will likely result in icy road conditions Tuesday night.
Flash freeze warnings are in effect north of Toronto, while freezing rain warnings have been issued for parts of eastern Ontario.
Rain that fell during the morning and afternoon is expected to freeze up as the temperature drops several degrees in the evening, meaning roads are expected to be icy and slippery.
A cold front is moving into the area after a low-pressure system brought mild temperatures, rain and dense fog. Overnight, the temperature is expected to fall to -7 C in Toronto.
Wind warning issued
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for the city of Toronto and surrounding areas including Brantford, St. Catharines, Hamilton, Burlington, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Pickering for Tuesday evening.
Strong southwest winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour were predicted along a cold front passing across the region earlier this evening, Environment Canada said.
The warning was ended for the GTA shortly after 7 p.m.
Dense fog cancels flights
Earlier Tuesday, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Toronto and several other communities in southern Ontario because of patchy, dense fog over areas near the lower Great Lakes.
The fog reduced visibility in open areas and resulted in flight delays and cancellations out of Billy Bishop and Pearson airports. People were urged to check their flight status.
Porter Airlines, for example, cancelled afternoon flights to New York City/Newark, N.J., and Chicago from Billy Bishop airport on Toronto Island. Air Canada reported cancellations, as well.
North of Toronto, an area from Grey and Bruce counties to Simcoe County, Muskoka and the Kawarthas was expected to see a mixture of wet snow, rain, ice pellets and freezing rain as the low-pressure system passed by, Environment Canada said.
A combination of snowfall and winter storm warnings is in effect from Grey and Bruce counties to eastern Ontario, including Ottawa. Up to 15 centimetres of snow is possible, and travel into those areas is not recommended, Environment Canada warned.
Freezing rain warnings have been issued from Bracebridge and Gravenhurst to Cornall, while wind warnings have been issued for Niagara region, Caledonia, Belleville and Kingston.
Flash freeze warnings have been issued for the Barrie, Orillia, Owen Sound and Dufferin areas.
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