Winter weather affecting schools, mail and flights across eastern Canada
For some regions, it has already arrived, while others could get up to 40 cm on Thursday
It's here. It's messy. It's wreaking havoc on the commute, and perhaps making some of us question our life choices.
But as the saying goes: a Canadian is like a winter tire — you can't tell how strong they are until you put them in cold weather.
The extreme winter weather most of southern Canada has been anticipating landed with a wallop Thursday morning, with much of southern Ontario and Quebec under winter storm and snowfall warnings, and the low-pressure system moving east toward the Atlantic provinces.
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"If you're going to be on the roads, stay in control, eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and your mind thinking about what's going on," Sgt. Kerry Schmidt with the highway safety division of the Ontario Provincial Police told CBC News Network on Thursday morning from Toronto.
Canada Post issued a red delivery service alert for Ontario due to inclement weather and snow, suspending all delivery.
Between 15 and 40 centimetres is forecast to fall by this afternoon across an area stretching from Windsor, Ont., to Gaspé in Quebec. School cancellations have been reported in the province in Windsor, London, Waterloo, the Greater Toronto Area and eastern Ontario, as well as across southern Quebec and parts of the Maritimes.
All school buses were cancelled in Ottawa as the city was covered in about 20 centimetres of snow by 6 a.m., with an additional 10 to 20 centimetres expected.
It didn't deter a commuter visible downtown gliding through the sidewalks on cross-country skis.
According to the Ottawa International Airport Authority, 41 flights in and out have been cancelled so far today.
The rest of the Highway 401 corridor, including Belleville, Brockville and Kingston and Prince Edward County, has a snowfall warning of about five to 10 more centimetres of snow and possible ice pellets.
More snow fell at Toronto Pearson International Airport in the last 24 hours than it did in the entire month of January, the airport said in a social media post. It recorded 26 centimetres of snow as of 10 a.m. According to flight data website Flight Tracker, 135 flights in and out of Pearson have been cancelled so far today.
In its latest update, Environment Canada said the city would receive two to five centimetres of snow on Thursday morning. There is also a risk of freezing rain on Thursday near Lake Ontario, it said.
There are multiple school closures in Montreal, where up to 40 centimetres of snow is expected by Thursday evening. Quebec City is set to receive up to 30 centimetres.
"We're asking everyone who is able to work from home to do so. Otherwise, take public transit. Bottom line is, if it's not urgent, postpone your appointment," a spokesperson for the City of Montreal told CBC News Network.
At Montreal's international airport, more than 100 flights have been cancelled. Most of them are domestic and transborder flights. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before heading to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau international Airport.
System moves east
New Brunswick could see up to 25 centimetres in some areas as snowfall continues into tonight, with a freezing rain risk in central and southern parts of the province. Provincial schools have closed for the day. Much of the province is under a snowfall warning.
In Nova Scotia, what had been a special weather statement Wednesday upgraded to a warning, as the swath of red on Environment Canada's weather alert map shifted east.
Most of mainland Nova Scotia is under a freezing rain warning, which Environment Canada warns could affect the afternoon commute.
"The freezing rain will be preceded by accumulating snow and ice pellets which is likely to exacerbate the hazard to motorists during the afternoon and evening commute. Strong southeasterly winds during the freezing precipitation could cause utility outages," the agency noted.
Some schools are closed for the day while others will let out two to three hours early, depending on the region. The Halifax Airport late Wednesday advised travellers to check the flight status for any arrivals and departures today. By afternoon, 13 flights in and out of the airport were listed as cancelled.
Cape Breton Island, on the other hand, was under a winter storm warning, expecting 15 to 30 centimetres of snow starting late afternoon.
Environment Canada has now issued a blowing snow advisory on top of a snowfall warning for western Prince Edward Island, with 15 to 25 centimetres expected to fall in the afternoon and end overnight — but not before mixing with ice pellets.
Schools across the Island were set to close early, and wind conditions may result in traffic restrictions on the Confederation Bridge beginning approximately 7 a.m. on Friday until approximately 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Some flights were cancelled.
Much of Newfoundland was under winter storm and blowing snow warnings. Snowfall in western Newfoundland is expected to continue into Friday, with at least 10 to 20 centimetres forecast.
Extreme cold in the west
Not to be outdone, several provinces in the west are dealing with an extended period of extreme cold.
Parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along with sections of Alberta and northern Ontario, are expected to see wind chill values of –40 or lower this week.
In Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, a multi-day episode of very cold wind chills is expected, according to Environment Canada.
"Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant," the agency warned.
That said, some in Winnipeg are finding ways to enjoy the deep freeze.
"If you're dressed for it, if you have the gear for it, honestly — there's nothing left but pleasure," a woman told CBC Winnipeg before lacing up her skates and taking off down the frozen river trail.
"This is going to be bragging rights," she added.
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With files from The Canadian Press, CBC Montreal, CBC Ottawa, CBC Toronto, CBC PEI
