Winter storm watch and cold warning in effect for Toronto and GTA. What you need to know this weekend

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Environment Canada (EC) has issued a yellow winter storm watch for Toronto on Sunday.

The weather agency says between 20 and 30 centimetres is expected to fall with visibility near zero at times due to potential blowing snow from forecasted wind gusts of up to 50 km/h.

The storm watch comes alongside bitterly cold weather on Friday and Saturday, with wind chills expected to hit -30 C at points.

• For hourly and daily forecasts, visit our weather hub here.

Here is how the cold affected Toronto on Friday.

5 p.m.

Dr. Howard Shapiro, Toronto’s associate medial officer of health, said residents should watch out for some of the main health effects related to extreme cold weather.

That includes frostbite, hypothermia, and pre-existing conditions like heart or lung conditions that can worsen in freezing temperatures.

“If you’ve been out a while and your fingers or toes are really numb, they look white, they feel like they’re actually frozen... then I think that is a sign that you should get some medical assessment,” Shapiro said in an interview with CP24.

“It’s also going to depend on the severity, and when you might need medical attention... you may not have the presence of mind to know that, but once you get to a point where it’s affecting your ability to think, it’s very severe. Particularly, if you’re really feeling cold, shivering, have chills, but... with your thinking or ability to respond, that’s an indication that you’re really in danger.”

4:40 p.m.

The TTC says it is cancelling this Sunday’s planned subway closures on Line 1 in anticipation of the winter storm.

The closure between St. George and St. Andrew stations will still begin Friday night at 11 p.m., but regular subway service will resume Sunday morning.

The transit agency says it has also activated its winter weather plan ahead of the storm, which includes running anti-icing trains, and spraying anti-icing on the entire streetcar overhead network as well as on the ground at all bus, streetcar, and subway divisions.

4:15 p.m.

Environment Canada has issued a yellow winter storm watch for Toronto on Sunday, with between 20 and 30 centimetres of snow expected.

Wind gusts of 50 km/h will result in blowing snow and decreased visibility, EC says.

Heavier and “broader” snowfall will arrive Sunday afternoon, though the weather agency says the exact areas to receive the heavier snow and just how intense it will be remains uncertain.

3:45 p.m.

The Toronto Zoo says it will be closed on Monday “to allow our team time to safely clear the snow and prepare the site” after Sunday’s expected snowfall.

The zoo added that an early closure could be possible on Sunday depending on the conditions.

3:30 p.m.

More snow is expected to arrive in the city on Sunday, according to Environment Canada. The weather agency says between 5 a.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. Monday, cold wind chills are expected along with significant snowfall, and says travel will likely be impacted.

2:45 p.m.

The city is reminding landlords that they are responsible for providing heat “to a minimum air temperature of 21 C” between October 1 and May 15.

Any residents who have spoken to their landlords or property managers about concerns are asked to call 3-1-1 if the issue isn’t resolved within 24 hours.

2:30 p.m.

The city says it has opened 117 additional, temporary shelter spaces on top of the spaces already available in Toronto’s warming centres.

In a statement, they say 540 emergency spaces were added to the system between both shelters and warming centres.

“Capacity pressures will be closely monitored, and a reassessment will be undertaken should further space be required,” the city said.

“The City has also informed community providers that they must make every reasonable effort to avoid turning away individuals seeking shelter or a place to come inside from the cold.”

If residents have a concern about someone they living outside, they are advised to contact 3-1-1.

12:10 p.m.

Experts are advising people to take care if they are venturing outdoors in the bitter cold over the next few days.

For a closer look at how long it takes for frostbite to set in and for tips on staying safe outdoors, click here.

11:30 a.m.

Environment Canada Climatologist Dave Phillips says this extreme cold snap could be hitting people harder because there’s been “unprecedented” variation the weather over the past few months.

“We had the warmest fall on record, and yet we’ve had these nasty bouts of cold weather too,” Phillips told CP24.

Phillips said a typical January afternoon would be around -2 C, meaning the city is about 10 degrees colder than normal right now, with that cold expected to worsen.

“It’ll be a busy weekend, but not in a good way for weather. It’ll be just too cold and too snowy for most people,” Phillips said.

He pointed out that it’s also been a very snowy winter so far and snow will be a major factor later in the weekend as well.

“A year’s worth of snow has fallen already, and we’re only at the halfway point, so we’ll be doing a lot more shoveling,” Phillips said.

11:15 a.m.

Environment Canada has issued a yellow warning for Toronto due to “bitterly cold” conditions expected to begin this evening.

The weather agency says it is expected to feel as cold as -33 with the wind chill.

“Bitterly cold conditions will begin this evening into Saturday morning, with wind chills near minus 30 to minus 33,” the weather agency says.

Environment Canada is advising people to keep pets indoors and to check on vulnerable friends and neighbours.

Outdoor workers are also being advised to take regularly scheduled breaks to warm up.

11 a.m.

The OPP say Hwy. 11 is fully closed both ways between Hwy. 93 and Line 15, from Barrie to Orillia, due to a multi-vehicle collision and vehicle fire.

OPP say there is poor visibility in the area due to the weather. They are advising people to avoid travelling if possible.

• FULL DETAILS: 30 to 40 vehicle pileup shuts down on Highway 11

9:30 a.m.

Keith Hambly, the CEO of Fred Victor, an organization that offers support to those experiencing homelessness, said extreme cold temperatures lead to adverse health effects particularly for people who are unhoused.

“Here in Toronto, the challenge for us is to get people off the street into a safer, warmer environment,” he told CTV News on Friday morning.

“We know this extreme cold weather causes so many other health conditions for people who are homeless. Everything from dehydration to frostbite.”

9 a.m.

Coulter said another big system appears to be around the corner. About 20 cm or more could fall at Pearson airport between noon on Sunday and early Monday morning.

“Prepare your wardrobe and travel plans accordingly to stay safe,” he added.

8:50 a.m.

The City of Toronto says surge warming centre remain open today amid the freezing conditions.

8:30 a.m.

CTV News medical expert Dr. Marla Shapiro said frostbite can come on quickly.

“Depending on where you are and your age and underlying medical conditions, we’ll say anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, but it is a range,” she told CP24 on Friday morning.

She noted that severe frostbite will require immediate medical attention.

“Make sure you are dressed properly. It is all about prevention here,” she said. “Make sure you are well hydrated.”

8 a.m.

Susan Nguyen, a spokesperson for the TTC, said “as a precaution,” the TTC is intentionally slowing down subway trains on Line 1 and Line 2 in open cut areas as a result of the cold.

7:15 a.m.

CAA spokesperson Kaitlynn Furse said drivers should make sure their car batteries are in working order before hitting the road in extreme cold.

“Your battery has a higher likelihood of having issues in this kind of weather,” she said, adding that batteries typically only last around three to five years.

“You certainly don’t want to be caught out in this.”

Drivers should also make sure their vehicles are equipped with emergency kits, blankets, extra hats, and mitts, she said.

7 a.m.

While some areas of southern Ontario will see lake effect snow bands, the bigger story in Toronto is the cold, Coulter said, adding that the city could see some bursts of flurries today.

6:30 a.m.

Toronto hasn’t seen lows drop to this level in January since 2018, CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said Friday.

“You are going to want to bundle,” he told viewers on Friday morning.

6 a.m.

Environment Canada is calling for flurries beginning near noon today in Toronto. The city will see a high of -12 C, feeling like -24 with the wind chill. The national weather agency said the low will hit -22 C overnight, feeling like -31.