Two storm systems are expected to batter Canadian coasts, bringing snow, rain and high-speed winds to communities across the country.
After a mostly mild December, weather-wise, the year is beginning with snow, rain, extreme cold and potentially damaging winds for provinces and territories across Canada.
SNOW COMING FOR EASTERN CANADA
A Texas low has crossed the Canadian border from the U.S., according to forecasters.
Overnight Monday, the storm that formed in the Gulf of Mexico brought warmer air to Canada, which collided with a cooler air mass.
"Texas lows are notoriously bad for Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada," Kelsey McEwen, CTV Your Morning's meteorologist, said.
Environment Canada issued winter storm warnings and weather advisories for large swaths of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on Tuesday morning.
Snowfall amounts are expected to vary as the storm heads west to east across the region.
Communities around the Great Lakes in southern Ontario were told to expect between five to 10 centimetres of snow by mid-Tuesday morning, according to McEwen, but much of it may be washed away by the 15 to 35 millimetres of rain expected later in the day and possibly overnight.
Places further north, like Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, can expect up to 30 centimetres of snow, according to Environment Canada. The weather agency issued a similar forecast for Ottawa.
The same storm was expected to bring snow and ice pellets, followed by strong winds, to communities in Quebec.
For example, Environment Canada's winter storm warning for the Saint-Hyacinthe - Acton Vale area of the province said "rapidly accumulating snow" could make travel difficult over some locations. “Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. There may be a significant impact on rush-hour traffic in urban areas,” the notice adds.
Further north, the Lake Bouchette area could see up to 40 centimetres of snow, Environment Canada predicted.
McEwen says Atlantic Canada is expected to get its share of snow and rain from the Texas low overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.
Winds are also expected to increase for provinces on the East Coast, with Environment Canada saying 60- to 100-km/h wind gusts and 10 to 25 centimetres of snow are possible Wednesday.
"By early hours pre-sunrise, it is snowing in parts of New Brunswick and then south of Halifax for some this flips over quite quickly to rain," McEwen said. "That will happen before the lunch hour. For Halifax, this is part of mainly a rain and wind story."
Freezing rain is possible for the southern portions of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Bay St. George and communities along the western coast of Newfoundland could see wind gusts at speeds between 80 and 100 km/h, except locally up to 140 km/h in areas “prone to enhanced easterlies to southeasterlies” by Wednesday evening, Environment Canada said.
For the Channel-Port aux Basques area and vicinity, Environment Canada said maximum wind gusts of 100 to 120 km/h are expected Wednesday night. In the Wreckhouse area, wind gusts up to 150 km/h are in the forecast.
“Fresh snowfall and strong winds will combine to cause a period of blowing snow, until snow eventually changes to rain overnight Wednesday night,” Environment Canada's special weather statement for that region read.
PACIFIC SYSTEM BRINGS WIND, SNOW
In Western Canada, a "strong" storm system is affecting the B.C. coast, Environment Canada's wind warning read.
Wind speeds could reach 70 to 90 km/h on Tuesday in the Victoria area and on the Southern Gulf Islands, according to the forecast. This is due to a frontal system that developed over the Pacific Ocean.
Environment Canada meteorologists said the wind speed would reduce late Tuesday afternoon.
The same wind warning is in effect for parts of the Metro Vancouver area including Richmond and Delta.
Snowfall warnings were in place for communities throughout the mountains in B.C. and into Alberta on Tuesday afternoon.
About 10 centimetres of snow was expected for some communities, with large snow accumulation expected over higher terrain.
EXTREME COLD
Separately, parts of central Saskatchewan were under a snowfall warning from Environment Canada Tuesday due to an Alberta clipper that is expected to track east across the province.
"Gusty winds" will move across Saskatchewan as the clipper tapers off Wednesday afternoon, the forecast said.
Parts of northern Alberta and Saskatchewan are also under extreme cold warnings on Tuesday.
According to Environment Canada, the wind chill will make it feel like -40 in some areas.
Yellowknife is under a similar extreme cold warning, with a "multi-day episode" of -50 with wind chill. Northwest Territories communities including Norman Wells and the Tulita Region are also under extreme cold warnings.
Old Crow, Yukon, continues to experience "bitterly cold wind chills near minus 50," according to Environment Canada.
