Ottawa weather forecast calls for 10-20 cm of snow

Environment Canada's special weather statement calls for anywhere from 10 to 20 centimetres of snow for the capital, which will be blowing around the city around noon today and lasting more than 24 hours.

Tuesday's forecast calls for cloudy skies with a 60 per cent chance of light snow in the morning before heavier snow and blowing snow starts around noon. That is due to a northeast wind gusting from 30 to 50 kilometres per hour.

We should get two to four centimetres of snow in the daytime as the high reaches –8 C.

Tonight brings the heavy stuff with about 10 more centimetres of snow expected by morning as a north wind gusts from 30 to 50 km/h. The low will be –11 C.

Wednesday will bring more periods of snow and blowing snow as a northwest wind gusts from 30 to 50 km/h. The amount will range from two to four centimetres as the high reaches –7 C.

Wednesday night should see the end of snow with more cloudy periods as the low hits –13 C.

As the snow disappears, the temperature begins to rise slightly. Thursday's high will be –5 C with a mix of sun and cloud before Friday's high of –2 C with another mix of sun and cloud.

Saturday could see a high of 1 C with a 60 per cent chance of rain or snow. That means the first day of spring (next Monday) should have a high above zero C.