City is preparing for a 'cocktail' of freezing rain, ice pellets, power outages this weekend

Heavy rain, freezing rain and even ice pellets are all part of a weather "cocktail" expected hit the GTA this weekend, bringing with it gusty winds that could cause widespread power outages, warns Environment Canada.

Several city agencies are urging residents to get ready for the storm and are reminding them of what to do to stay safe. 

A freezing rain warning is now in effect for Toronto because of the storm heading toward the city. The worst of the weather is expected this weekend.

"It's quite the cocktail of precipitation with this storm," said Etienne Gregoire, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

"If you have to do any travelling on the weekend ... you'll encounter all kinds of conditions."

The rain is expected to start on Friday, which could turn into an ice storm on Saturday and continue as heavy rain on Sunday as the storm "pulls a lot of cold air from northern Ontario into it," Gregoire explained.   

In some areas, the freezing rain could turn into ice pellets, he said.

Areas just north of Toronto, including Newmarket, Barrie and Aurora, may be hit hardest.

The City of Toronto is encouraging residents and businesses to plan ahead to ensure their safety and protect their property.

During severe weather, they are reminding the public to:

• Try to keep children and pets indoors, consider working from home and take public transit.
• Clear the area around catch basins to prevent flooding on roadways.  
• Use salt on sidewalks to make them safer for pedestrians.  
• Help elderly neighbours or people who may need some assistance. 
• Pick up any critical medications prior to the storm.

In the event your basement is flooded or your property is damaged the city is also recommending residents to:

• Call 311 immediately to report basement flooding. 
• Call Toronto Hydro to disconnect power if there is flood water in your basement and your power is on. 
• Call your insurance company as soon as possible to report property damage caused by flooding.

Hydro crews preparing for possible damage

Toronto Hydro is preparing for any damage an ice storm can cause, including fallen wires or downed power lines, spokesperson Tori Gass said.

"The ice can accumulate on our wires, bring them down as they get heavy," she explained.

"It can also accumulate on tree branches as they come down. We're also seeing that there can be high winds in the forecast and that can also take a toll on our system."

Gass says Toronto Hydro has brought in additional crews to monitor the situation over the weekend.

65 salt trucks on standby

With Environment Canada calling for winter-like driving conditions, the city has 65 salt trucks on standby.

"We're going to start salting first on expressways, and then the main roads, and then we'll do the hills and bridges, and then we can move to local roads if required," said David Twaddle, the acting director of transportation services for Toronto and East York.

Twaddle said motorists, cyclist and pedestrians alike should take precautions when they're travelling during the storm.

Flooding is expected in some areas, so city crews are also out clearing catch basins. Twaddle is asking residents to call 311 if they see any flooding.

TTC prepares for ice storm

TTC staff have also put together a plan for the severe weather.

The transit commission says it's applied anti-freeze to the streetcar network to keep ice from freezing the wires and added "sliders" to trolley poles on every fifth streetcar to knock ice off the lines should it build up.

Storm cars will also run on all routes, to keep switches free of any ice that the anti-freeze misses.

For riders using the subway, storm trains will operate Friday night and Saturday night to keep the power rail clear of any ice. 

In the event of a major power outage that knocks out both the streetcars and the subway the TTC says it will have shuttle buses available.

On St. Clair Avenue, buses will replace streetcars starting Saturday at 8 a.m.

Transit riders will be asked to wait at the curb and not at the streetcar shelters along St. Clair.

Buses will also replace the 501 streetcar along Queen Street East from Kingston Road to Neville Park to keep more streetcars in the downtown core.

A planned closure for Line 2 from Kipling to Jane stations this weekend will continue as scheduled. 

School boards cancel weekend programs

The forecast has forced the Peel, Dufferin-Peel and York district school boards to cancel all weekend programming, including continuing education and adult ESL classes, as well as community permit activities.