Significant rainfall, strong winds and power outages are expected Sunday for a number of areas in the Waterloo region, as an ice storm continues to work its way through the region.
Environment Canada is predicting "more significant" freezing rain for Sunday, after the area was battered by winds and ice pellets on Saturday.
"I've been wracking my brain and poking around in the database to try to find a similar event happening this late in the year, and I haven't been able to find one to this point going back a number of decades, so certainly this is a very rare event," said Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.
A rainfall warning and freezing rain warning remained in effect Sunday morning, with 10 to 15 mm of additional ice buildup and winds gusting 70 to 80 km/h predicted.
Heavy rainfall was also in the forecast for Sunday evening with 20 to 25 mm expected.
"For anyone planning travel today, the strong recommendation is if you don't have to be out on the roads, to stay home," said Coulson. "If you don't need to be out there, the best bet is to stay home and ride out the storm there."
Environment Canada warned localized flooding in low lying areas was also possible, and "many power outages due to fallen tree limbs" were likely.
By Sunday morning, Waterloo North Hydro officials had already dealt with and resolved four power outages. Guelph Hydro had also dealt with a number of small outages, according to the company's spokesperson.
Seasonal weather not expected any time soon
Coulson said an arctic air mass is to blame for the wild weather.
"Because the cold air has dominated, this storm track right over the lower great lakes, has led to this significant, more like a winter storm than what we would expect for this time of year," he said. "We will finally see the system moving out Monday morning, or toward mid-day on Monday."
But Waterloo region won't see a return to seasonal weather for a bit.
"Unfortunately it looks like we have a little bit more in the way of chilly temperatures to deal with. As we go into Tuesday, there's still the possibility of scattered shower or flurry activity," he said.