Icy roads expected as 'prolonged period of freezing rain' hits Ottawa

Freezing rain has started to fall in Ottawa on Wednesday evening and is expected to last until Thursday morning.

Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for the storm, which could bring between 5 to 10 mm of ice accretion to the city.

"Significant ice build-up due to a long-lasting period of freezing rain," the weather agency said in a statement.

"Freezing drizzle or light flurries will persist today before precipitation transitions to freezing rain this evening. Freezing rain is expected to last for many hours before tapering off Thursday morning."

Residents woke up to snowy road conditions following an overnight snowfall that blanketed the capital with 4 cm of snow.

Motorists are being warned of slippery road conditions tonight and Thursday following a 'prolonged period of freezing rain.' The forecast calls for a mainly cloudy day with a 60 per cent chance of light snow or freezing drizzle.

The forecast caused the National Capital Commission to close the Rideau Canal Skateway as of 10 p.m. Wednesday until further notice.

OC Transpo says out-of-service trains will run overnight to clear ice from overhead wires on the Confederation Line. A freezing rain event last January caused trains to become stuck, disrupting LRT service for several days.

Freezing rain will begin tonight with the temperature rising to -3 C overnight.

Thursday will be mainly cloudy with a chance of freezing drizzle and a high of 1 C.

Temperatures will keep rising to reach a high of 4 C on Friday and a 60 per cent chance of rain.

Environment Canada's long range forecast calls for cold temperatures to return this weekend, with a high of -5 C on Saturday and -11 C on Sunday.