Oh, Canada: Most major cities under winter weather warnings for cold, snow and storms
Environment Canada issues snowfall, winter storm and extreme cold warnings for most provinces
If you were looking for signs of an early spring, well, look elsewhere.
Most of southern Canada is about to get walloped by a strong hit of winter weather, almost as if to remind us there are still 36 days left in the season and we are to shovel, shiver and suffer through them.
As of Wednesday evening, swaths of every province and territory in the country except for the Northwest Territories were either under a weather warning, watch or statement, according to Environment Canada's weather alert map.
The warnings were largely concentrated across the southern half of the provinces.
Sections of B.C. were also under warnings later Wednesday, with parts of the North Coast and Whistler due for Arctic outflow (strong winds combined with wind chill) Wednesday and Thursday, and both Yoho Park and Kootenay Park facing extreme cold, with wind chill values near –35 C through Friday morning.
Out east, Labrador City, N.L., is under an extreme cold warning, with the wind chill dipping as low as –50 C overnight on Wednesday. Meanwhile, up north, Iqaluit has a blizzard warning, and so does Dempster, Yukon.
Virtually the entire southern half of Saskatchewan and Manitoba is due for extreme cold, with Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg all facing a "multi-day episode" of wind chills of –40 C or lower.
As for southern Ontario and Quebec? The warnings are a real mixed bag of winter misery, including extreme cold, freezing rain, storms and snowfall, depending on where you live.
"It's going to be a messy drive," the Ontario Provincial Police Highway Safety Division said in a video posted to X Tuesday night. Motorists were advised to avoid non-essential travel.
Heavy snow in parts of Ontario, Pearson cancels some flights
Heavy snow is expected to hit much of southern Ontario starting Wednesday afternoon, including Toronto, which can expect about 15 centimetres, and Ottawa, which may get clobbered with up to 40 centimetres.
Ahead of the storm's arrival, the City of Toronto warned it could take "longer than usual" to clear roads, sidewalks and bike lanes.
As of 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, the following GTHA areas remained under snowfall warning: Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Mississauga, Brampton, Uxbridge, Durham Region, Pickering, Oshawa, Newmarket, Georgina, York Region, Oakville, Halton Hills, and Milton. Hamilton faced a winter storm warning.
A winter storm warning was likewise in effect for Barrie, Collingwood and Hillsdale as of Wednesday evening, lasting into Thursday. Total snowfall amounts could reach up to 30 centimetres, Environment Canada said. At its peak, snowfall rates could exceed five centimetres an hour.
Several airlines cancelled flights in anticipation of the storm, Toronto Pearson International Airport said in a Wednesday morning post on X.
In the capital region, Ottawa is expected to see its biggest winter storm in several years. The total snowfall could be in the neighbourhood of 40 centimetres.
Snow for Quebec, Maritimes
Nearly all of southern Quebec is under winter storm and snowfall warnings.
Montreal faces a winter storm warning, which is issued when several types of severe winter weather are forecast at once. The area could see as much as 40 centimetres of snow Wednesday through Thursday, plus moderate winds that will "generate local blowing snow," according to Environment Canada.
A series of school closures were stacking up on Wednesday evening, as Montreal-area school boards made calls on the impact the weather would have on Thursday's classes. Parents and students are advised to check their school's communications for closures.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a warning for the regions of Montreal, Montérégie, the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Outaouais and Mont-Laurier.
Quebec City faces a similar winter storm warning, with total snowfall accumulations of 15 to 30 centimetres expected beginning Thursday morning through Friday morning.
Almost the entire province of New Brunswick is under a snowfall warning, including Fredericton, which could see 15 to 25 centimetres of snow starting Thursday morning, which could then mix with ice pellets in the afternoon. The rest of New Brunswick, including Saint John and Moncton, is under a special weather statement for "significant winter weather."
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for most of Nova Scotia, plus a winter storm watch for Inverness County, Richmond County, Sydney and Cape Breton County, and Victoria County. Halifax can expect "messy winter weather" Thursday, with up to 10 centimetres of snow.
A snowfall warning for Prince County in western Prince Edward Island predicted snowfall totals of 15 to 25 centimetres. The rest of the province was under a special weather statement calling for comparatively lower totals of 10 to 15 centimetres.
As of Wednesday evening, a mix of winter storm warnings and special weather statements had been issued for much of Newfoundland and Labrador.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from CBC Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal
