Freezing drizzle, high wind alerts issued by Environment Canada for central Ontario

A car moves along an asphalt road during icy winter weather in this undated image. (File photo/IGOR KUTNII/Getty Images)

Freezing rain mixed with snow across most of central Ontario has necessitated the need for two weather alerts by the national weather agency.

The freezing drizzle weather advisory is expected to continue through early afternoon.

The agency says freezing drizzle produces thin, hard-to-detect layers of ice.

The concern is for surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots becoming icy and slippery.

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Additionally, strong gusts of wind up to 80 kilometres per hour are expected this evening and over night in the following areas:

• Barrie - Collingwood – Hillsdale
• Midland - Coldwater - Orr Lake
• Orangeville - Grand Valley - Southern Dufferin County
• Owen Sound - Blue Mountains - Northern Grey County

In its advisory, Environment Canada says “Strong southwesterly winds will shift to strong northwesterly winds tonight in the wake of a strong cold front. Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage.”