Overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, patchy freezing drizzle or light freezing rain is anticipated across Southwestern, Central, and Eastern Ontario. While this weather event is not expected to result in significant disruptions, it could create a thin layer of ice on untreated surfaces such as rural roads, sidewalks, and vehicles, particularly where temperatures remain near freezing.
Currently, the freezing rain is not expected to reach levels that would usually trigger widespread school bus cancellations; however, there remains a possibility for localized decisions should Environment Canada issue advisories or if conditions worsen unexpectedly.
The North Hastings zone within Tri-Board Student Transportation Services is identified as having the highest likelihood of experiencing weather-related impacts, given its extensive network of rural routes that can quickly become hazardous even with minor icing. This area has been assigned a 25 percent chance of seeing an “ice day.” Meanwhile, other rural regions across Eastern, Central, and Southwestern Ontario are estimated to have a low 5 to 10 percent chance of cancellations. Most school boards are projected to operate normally on Wednesday, but adjustments could be made based on the overnight weather conditions.
The school boards affected include those under Tri-Board, the Renfrew County District School Board, the Upper Canada District School Board, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, the Near North District School Board, the Simcoe County District School Board, the northern part of the Durham District School Board, the Upper Grand District School Board, the Bluewater District School Board, and the Avon Maitland District School Board.
Overall, outside the specified regions, school bus operations are expected to remain unaffected by weather conditions on Wednesday, allowing students to continue with their studies. This situation reflects the careful monitoring of weather patterns by local authorities, ensuring student safety while minimizing disruptions to education.