Blowing snow, extreme cold expected across region

Climatologist Dave Phillips says Waterloo Region has gotten more than it's fair share of snow this season.

It might feel chilly in Waterloo Region now, but it’s about to get even colder.

Environment Canada warned it could feel like minus 25 or even minus 30 on Tuesday night, with winds gusting up to 50 km/h.

“Wind chill values will moderate through the day Tuesday but are still expected to be minus 15 to minus 20,” the alert said.

Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it.

The extreme cold will continue through the week.

Thursday night’s forecast shows an overnight low of minus 23 degrees Celsius. With the windchill, it could feel closer to minus 30 or minus 35.

CTV News spoke with Climatologist Dave Phillips, from Environment and Climate Change Canada, on Sunday. He warned that the big chill could continue until the first week of February.

Residents will, however, get a break from the shoveling and snowblowing. Only light flurries are expected in the next few days, with little to no accumulation anticipated.

Environment Canada issued a warning of “significantly reduced visibility” due to blowing snow across the region.

Poor visibility is expected from early Tuesday morning through the evening, with local snowfall amounts of five to 10 cm possible.

“Southwesterly winds becoming westerly gusting near 50 km/h will result in widespread blowing and drifting snow,” the weather agency said in their advisory. “The blowing and drifting snow will be most pronounced in open and wind exposed areas. In addition, occasional snow squalls are possible this afternoon, with poor visibility remaining the predominant hazard.”

Travel conditions are expected to be hazardous, and road closures are possible.

Grand River Transit issued a service alert, informing users that buses would continue to run, but there would be delays on a number of routes.