Severe winter conditions have prompted weather warnings in six provinces and territories today with a mixture of snow, rain, and high winds expected across several parts of the country.
Environment Canada
issued advisories for regions in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.
Numerous communities are under warnings or advisories, as meteorologists predict frigid temperatures, blizzards, snow squalls, potentially destructive wind gusts, and heavy rainfall.
Here’s a look at what each province can expect.
Ontario
Snow squall warnings have been issued across a large swath of the province from Belleville in the east to Kincardine in the west, Aurora to the south, and Sault Ste. Marie in the north.A snow squall watch is also in place for the London and Kitchener-Waterloo regions while a winter weather travel advisory has been issued for communities near Parry Sound as well as west of Toronto.
Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, Owen Sound, and much of the Bruce Peninsula will be hit with lake effect snow squalls, northwest winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour, and snow accumulations of up to 60 centimetres, according to the advisory.
Residents of the region can expect poor visibility due to blowing snow to continue throughout the day and into Jan. 3.
Listowel, Hanover, Kincardine, and Saugeen Shores can expect slightly less snow but similar damaging winds with 60 kilometre per hour gusts. Blowing snow and up to 40 centimetres of snow are expected throughout the day.
Innisfil, New Tecumseth, and Georgina may receive as much as 40 centimetres of snow, falling today and into the following morning.
“The highest snowfall accumulations are expected over areas southeast and just south of Lake Simcoe,” Environment Canada said. “Due to the nature of lake effect snow, some areas further away from the lake may see little to no snow accumulations.”
Areas like Gravenhurst and Bracebridge, hard hit by snow early in the winter season can also expect lake effect snow squalls beginning this morning with accumulations of up to 25 centimetres.
Gravenhurst declared a
state of emergency Dec. 1 after being hit with more than 140 centimetres of snow that resulted in motorists being stranded overnight in their vehicles on Highway 11.
Peterborough, Port Hope, Trenton, and Belleville can expect similar weather as lake effect snow squalls from Georgian Bay track inland. The squalls are expected to persist in both areas overnight with the snow moving further south tomorrow morning.
London, Stratford, Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding areas are under a squall watch with total accumulations of snow likely to exceed 15 centimetres, the weather agency said.
Brampton, Guelph, Caledon, and Orangeville are under a weather advisory with treacherous travel conditions and heavy snowfall up to 10 centimetres to begin this morning. The lake effect snow is expected to gradually weaken this afternoon but could continue into the evening hours, according to the advisory.
Further north, the Parry Sound area is under a similar advisory with “reduced visibility at times” due to heavy snow. Total accumulations of five to 10 centimetres are expected.
Northwest winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour are expected in the Sault Ste. Marie region of Northern Ontario with blowing snow and accumulations up to 20 centimetres.
Quebec
Several warnings and advisories have been issued in Quebec with communities in the southern part of the province expecting heavy snowfall.The Granby, Brome, and Mont-Orford areas should brace for blowing snow with up to 25 centimetres expected through the morning of Jan. 3.
“A persistent westerly flow should bring locally significant snowfall amounts and blowing snow,” Environment Canada said. “Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.”
The Saguenay region, locales east of Lac Saint-Jean, and the Lower St. Lawrence region are under a blowing snow advisory with strong westerly winds in the forecast. Combined with snow, the weather agency is forecasting “near-zero” visibility driving conditions.
A rainfall warning is in effect for the Étamamiou, Harrington Harbour, Aylmer Sound, Mutton Bay, and La Romaine regions of Quebec with 25 to 35 millimetres expected. Localized flooding is a possibility in low-lying areas.
A special weather statement has been issued for Waskaganish and locales to the east as a “large and intense weather system” will hit the region beginning today with snow and strong winds for several days.
“Late in the day on Friday, winds will intensify and could produce widespread blowing snow,” the statement said.
The weather agency has also issued a storm surge warning for the coastline from Pointe-des-Monts to Gallix with higher than normal water levels and large waves expected near the coast by this afternoon.
The combination of powerful northeast winds and a high tidal range could create “minor breaking sea conditions” along the coast with flooding and coastal erosion possible in vulnerable areas, Environment Canada said.
Locales near James Bay, from Chisasibi to south of Eastmain, and Nemiscau, meanwhile, are under a winter storm watch with significant snowfall, blowing snow, and strong to high winds possible Jan. 3 into Jan. 4.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Atlantic province of Newfoundland and Labrador can expect a mixed bag of weather with rainfall and wind warnings in effect for several regions while snow is expected in other areas.Corner Brook to Gros Morne can expect wind gusts of 70 kilometres per hour while areas “prone to enhanced southeasterlies” could see gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour, Environment Canada said.
“Strong winds that may cause damage are expected or occurring,” the agency said. “Similar storms in the past have resulted in hazardous driving conditions and toppling of high-sided vehicles.”
The wind is expected to abate this afternoon.
A rainfall warning has been issued for the Burgeo-Ramea region with nearly 30 millimetres predicted to fall. Rainfall, combined with melting snow, and a frozen ground could result in water pooling on roadways and elevated water levels in creeks and streams, the weather agency said.
In the north, the Labrador Straits are under a snowfall warning with substantial snowfall expected inland and over higher terrain.
At least 25 centimetres is expected this morning, with more possible, along the highway between Red Bay and Lodge Bay, the advisory said.
A special weather statement has been issued for most of Newfoundland forecasting significant snowfall, rainfall, and strong winds beginning Jan. 5 into Jan. 6.
Residents along coastal areas from Ferryland to Cape Freels can expect large waves and pounding surf to result in higher than normal water levels, particularly near high tide Jan. 5.
“These large waves can cause coastal erosion in vulnerable areas, as well as damage to infrastructure along the shoreline, especially at locations that have been prone to impacts during similar events in the past,” the statement said.
The Territories
Parts of the Northwest Territories and Yukon can expect a prolonged period of frigid temperatures with the extreme cold forecast to last through the weekend.Several Northwest Territories communities located north, east, and west of Yellowknife can expect windchills of -50 Celsius while north and central Yukon can anticipate windchills below -40 Celsius and at times near -50 Celsius.
“Extreme cold puts everyone at risk,” the weather agency said. “Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.”
