Forecasters are expecting the effects of a “superstorm” to hit the Greater Toronto Area beginning late Monday as the remnants of Hurricane Sandy collide with the area’s already poor weather conditions.
An onslaught of “wet, windy and wild” weather is expected to hit southern Ontario late Monday, Environment Canada said in a bulletin issued Sunday afternoon.
Forecasters predict that between 20 and 30 millimetres of rain will land by Sunday, with an additional 50 to 100 mm by Tuesday as the dreary weather conditions continue.
Some of that rain has the potential to turn into snow over central Ontario, according to Canadian Hurricane Centre spokesperson Bob Robichaud.
Heavy rains, accompanied by chilling gusts of wind, are expected to persist in southern and eastern Ontario until Tuesday. The blustery weather is expected to improve slightly before Halloween.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority released a statement Saturday warning residents of potential flooding. According to the statement, the increased rainfall will result in high flows and water levels in all rivers and streams, creating dangerous conditions.
Drivers are also being asked to take extra caution when on the roads and avoid low-lying areas and roadways.
The weather statement will remain in effect until Tuesday.
Wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour are likely to hit the Toronto area by Tuesday afternoon.
The increased weather warnings are largely linked to Hurricane Sandy, which tore through the Caribbean in recent days. The Category One storm is expected to be off the coast of North Carolina on Sunday and land in southern New Jersey by Monday afternoon.
The storm system will collide with the abundant moisture over the eastern seaboard, with effects spilling into Quebec, Southern Ontario and the Maritimes.
Environment Canada also released a special weather statement that predicts there will be power outages throughout Southern Ontario as strong winds snap electrical wires.
Air Canada has released a number of warnings about possible flight disruptions on its website. The list includes flights scheduled for Saturday up to Oct. 30. Flights to Newfoundland and Calgary could be affected due to windy conditions and potential snow. Cross-border flights into the eastern United States will also be affected due to the storm, particularly New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Boston.
The airline said it will allow customers whose flights are affected to rebook without penalty.
The powerful storm could bring snow to parts of Northeastern Ontario on Monday, depending on its intensity, according to Environment Canada. The snowfall is possible in the Halliburton Highlands and the higher ground southwest of Georgian Bay.
While rain is forecast throughout the week, a slight reprieve for trick-or-treaters may come Wednesday night. However, Environment Canada warns it will still be a cold, damp evening.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Dana Levenson and files from The Canadian Press
