Toronto police have issued a warning to the public about dangerous ice and water conditions around the city.
Authorities warned about rising water levels due to warmer temperatures and thin ice on city ponds.
"This ice is very unstable and is not strong enough to support any kind of weight," says the news release. "The forecasted mild temperatures will make the ice even more dangerous, causing ice and snow to melt, leading to fast-moving currents in surrounding rivers and streams."
Traffic got off to a tricky start Tuesday morning as slushy roads made for some slippery conditions.
The Ontario Provincial Police responded to several crashes along major highways during the morning rush. Early Tuesday morning, two tractor-trailer collisions in both Toronto and Mississauga caused traffic chaos when they forced Highway 401 to briefly close.
The eastbound ramp from Winston Churchill Boulevard onto Highway 403 was also shut down this morning after a truck slipped into the ditch. One person was sent to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
On the Gardiner Expressway, three people were seriously injured after a car skidded and slammed into a guardrail close to the Islington Avenue exit.
Environment Canada is forecasting more unpredictable weather throughout the day.
In Toronto, commuters should prepare for a mix of wet snow and rain throughout the morning and overnight. However, the temperatures are expected to remain over the freezing mark, reaching a high of 6C.
Cottage country remained under a weather warning Tuesday. Environment Canada said the Barrie and Collingwood area should prepare for 15 to 25 centimetres of snow by Wednesday morning.
"Motorists should exercise extreme caution," the weather agency warned on its website. "Dangerous winter driving conditions are expected. Untreated surfaces may be icy and very slippery especially in areas receiving heavy snow or freezing rain."
A similar warning was issued for Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton and the Algonquin area.
