With blizzards and freezing rain lashing the country, Environment Canada issued severe weather warnings for large swathes of British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick on Monday, as well as for smaller portions of Alberta and Nova Scotia.

As much as 20 centimetres of snow is expected to fall in the Vancouver area on Monday while the Fraser Valley and the Kootenays are expecting similar dumps of snow. Winds as high as 90 km/h are also expected to blast through much of Vancouver Island and the province’s Central Coast.

Winnipeg residents are being asked to limit their travel following a prairie snowstorm that blanketed the southern region of the province with as much as 33 centimetres in some areas between Christmas and Boxing Day.

Many highways in the province have reopened. However, Manitoba’s leg of the Trans-Canada Highway, as well as two major routes that run south from Winnipeg to the U.S. border, remain closed.

In Ontario, a freezing rain warning is in effect for the southern region and a winter storm warning has been issued for the north of the province. The freezing rain is expected to cause significant ice build-up from Ottawa eastward towards Algonquin Park.

Northern Ontario is bracing for up to 25 centimetres by this evening. The snowfall is expected to taper off overnight, but strong winds could impede travel into Tuesday morning.

In Quebec, freezing rain is causing dangerous driving conditions. Sûreté du Québec has reported about a hundred collisions and other accidents since 2 p.m. Montreal police have advised drivers to remain at home, if possible.

The low pressure system, which is working its way from Ontario to Quebec, will also reach New Brunswick in the evening. Between 5 and 15 centimetres of wet, heavy snow, ice pellets and freezing rain are expected to pummel much of the province before turning into rain Tuesday morning. NB Power is taking precautions after a busy Christmas Day that saw about 6,700 customers without power due to high winds.

Due to strong winds, snow and/or freezing rain, Air Canada issued travel alerts for cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver on Monday, warning that flights could be delayed or cancelled. Change fees for affected cities have been waived.

Porter Airlines and WestJet have also issued similar weather-related travel advisories.

Environment Canada

Porter Airlines and WestJet have also issued similar weather-related travel advisories.