Road closures with much of the region under a ‘blizzard’ warning, frigid temperature and wind chills

Some wild winter weather continues across southern Ontario with bitterly cold wind chills.

The Middlesex London Health Unit has issued an extreme cold weather alert with wind chills this afternoon close to minus 20 and getting even colder overnight.

“We have snow and blowing snow and snow squall warnings continuing,” said CTV News London Meteorologist Julie Atchison. “There are blizzard warnings through Huron, Perth, Grey, and Bruce counties, where there could be upwards of 20 plus centimeters of snow.”

A snow squall watch in effect in and around Haldimand towards Norfolk and Niagara. Areas under that watch are expecting some snow squalls to develop later today.

“We’ll see rounds of cold arctic air moving in and temperatures are set to drop off in the extended forecast outside right now. We’re holding between minus nine and minus 10. That’s what we’re looking at for daytime highs factoring in that wind chill from minus 19 to minus 21.”

Atchison added it will be dangerously cold overnight with those wind chills dropping to about minus 24.

Roads

• Hwy 4: Closed both directions between Walper Street and Clinton.W
• Hwy 23: Closed Monkton to Mitchell
• Wellington Rd 86: Closed Perth Road 140 to Wellington Rd 12
• Hwy 8: Closed Blacks Point Rd to Falls Rd, Goderich

“Hey, this is where we live. You know, we can expect some inclement weather. You know, prepare, plan ahead. Discuss your plan with your loved ones. You know, when you set out, where are you going to go? Make sure that cell phones charged up. Clear off all the windows on your car. Make sure you’ve taken the time to fill up your washer fluid. Make sure you have lots of fuel, all those basic reminders. But, you know, we still have to say it, because people find themselves in situations that are not prepared,” said Huron OPP Const. Craig Soldan.

Here’s a look at the rest of the forecast

Monday Night: Flurries. Risk of snow squalls this evening. Local blowing snow. Local amount 2 cm. Wind west 50 km/h gusting to 70 diminishing to 30 gusting to 50 late this evening. Low minus 16. Wind chill minus 20 this evening and minus 27 overnight.

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with 60 per cent chance of flurries. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. High minus 12. Wind chill minus 27 in the morning and minus 20 in the afternoon.

Wednesday: Periods of snow. High minus 3.

Thursday: Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. High minus 7.

Friday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. High minus 10.

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud with 60 percent chance of flurries. High minus 12.