School buses cancelled Thursday morning with fog advisory, risk of black ice, freezing rain by afternoon; schools open

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Freezing rain day just doesn’t have the same ring to it but school buses are cancelled in Ottawa Thursday with a pair of weather alerts in effect.

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A freezing rain warning was issued with two to five millimetres of ice expected to build up starting Thursday afternoon and ending Thursday night.

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But up first, the fog advisory for Thursday morning cites near-zero visibility in some places and potentially patches of black ice.

“Locally dense fog has developed,” Environment and Climate Change Canada said. “With temperatures below the freezing mark, the fog may deposit ice onto untreated surfaces. Some roads and walkways may become slippery as a result.

“Fog is expected to lift late this morning.”

Precipitation may start as snow or ice pellets Thursday afternoon before switching to freezing rain, the weather agency said.

“A prolonged period of freezing rain is expected for the Ottawa River Valley” before it turns to rain overnight, the weather agency said.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.”

Both the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority and Consortium de transport scolaire d’Ottawa cancelled school buses in the capital due to bad weather.

Schools remain open but it’s up to parents to drop kids off and pick them up at bell time, Ottawa’s English and Catholic boards reminded.