Residents in Ontario are bracing for their first winter storm of 2014, while thousands in Newfoundland remain without electricity as temperatures dip down to -35 C.
Environment Canada issued a special warning statement for much of Ontario as two separate storm systems are expected to hit the province beginning Saturday, with freezing rain and as much as 20 cm of snow by Monday.
A storm system moving from the north of the province is expected to bring snowfall beginning Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning dumping 5 cm of snow in some areas, while a storm system developing over Oklahoma and Texas will make its way north, crossing into Ontario Sunday night and persisting into Monday morning.
The agency warns that Saturday's milder temperatures will be short-lived.
While the average temperature will hover around the freezing mark in Toronto on Saturday and Sunday, the mercury will soon begin to dip, with a high of -17 C forecasted for Tuesday.
The agency expects bitterly cold temperatures to remain throughout the region through Wednesday, bringing in some of the coldest temperatures in years.
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate by Sunday night, with accumulating snow and poor visibility anticipated across most of Southern Ontario.
A special weather statement is also in effect for much of Quebec, where Environment Canada warns of "adverse weather conditions" that could include significant snowfall in the northern part of the province and freezing rain in the south.
Meanwhile, a wind chill warning remains in effect for much of the province, with wind chill values ranging from -38 C in central and eastern Quebec to -50 in regions farther north.
Newfoundland dealing with widespread power outages
Meanwhile, Maritime residents are digging themselves out of as much as 40 cm of snow left by a blizzard that cancelled flights and had authorities warning residents to stay indoors as high winds made the temperature feel like -25 C.
Thousands of residents across Newfoundland remain without power after a fire broke out at a terminal station following the powerful blizzard.
Hydro officials from the province said the fire is under control and they are working to restore power to customers.
CTV’s Todd Battis reports that many Newfoundland residents may still be without power as late as Sunday afternoon as overnight temperatures dip down to -35 C.
Strong winds and freezing temperatures have also cancelled several flights in and out of St. John’s.
Meanwhile, residents in Halifax are also busy digging out of their homes after close to 40 cm of snow was dumped on the area.
CTV Halifax’s Amanda Debison said snow plows from across the province were out in full force to help clear roads and sidewalks.
“There are plenty of plows out around Halifax digging out the side streets, so they’re still working away,” she told CTV News Channel.
Debison also reports that tow truck companies are busy helping motorists get back on the roads.
“One of the companies I spoke with said that they have 50 calls back-logged. They expect they’ll still have that many tomorrow, it’s a lot of work that they have to do, they say it’s actually quite unbelievable the amount of work that they have to do this weekend to get cars out of ditches.”
Officials are preparing for another cold snap expected to hit the area on Tuesday.
“They do have a full plan for when there is a large snow storm. They say they work day and night, holiday or not, they’re still on the roads working. So I’m sure they do have a plan set-up for Tuesday. I don’t know the exact details of that plan but they go full-force here and try to have plows on the road constantly,” Debison said.
Environment Canada is warning of snow, ice pellets and freezing rain in New Brunswick on Monday while wind chill and blowing snow warnings remains effect Saturday in Newfoundland and Labrador.
