The freezing rain warning that brought treacherous icy conditions to Cornwall and the surrounding area has officially ended, Environment Canada announced on March 28, 2026. The storm that prompted the warning moved through the region on March 26, coating local roads and sidewalks with ice as temperatures hovered just below freezing.
The warning covered the Cornwall-Lancaster area, alerting residents to expect icy roads and slippery walkways as freezing rain and snow mixed through the region. Federal weather officials had warned the severe weather event could be extensive, widespread, and prolonged across areas of Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.
The storm comes on the heels of a more significant ice event that hit eastern Ontario earlier in March. That earlier system, which arrived overnight on March 11, prompted Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario to cancel all school buses across Cornwall and the SDG area on March 11. Ice accumulation during that storm was forecast to range from 10 to 25 millimetres, with localized amounts potentially exceeding 25 millimetres near the Quebec border.
The March 11 storm also caused power outages across eastern Ontario. Hydro One power restoration teams were deployed to address outages stretching from Kingston to Cornwall, affecting thousands of residents.
Following the most recent storm, conditions across Cornwall and SDG remained mixed. Parts of the ice stayed intact while other areas melted, with snow covering much of the region after freezing rain turned to flurries.
With the warning now lifted and clear skies returning, temperatures around -8 degrees Celsius are expected today. The improvement in weather means safer travel conditions for local roads and sidewalks as residents move past the icy conditions that have plagued the region over the past week.
