From snow to high winds and extreme cold, much of Canada is under a severe weather warning this weekend.
Here’s what you can expect in your region:
Conditions can change quickly; For more information and important safety tips, search Environment Canada’s weather alert portal, located here.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Far southeastern Labrador and all of Newfoundland are under at least one weather alert as of Saturday morning, with wind and rain warnings covering much of the island.
The Lodge Bay area of Labrador is under a winter storm watch, and Environment Canada warns that snowfall may exceed 30 centimeters in higher terrain, with wind gusts of up to 90 km/h inland and 110 km/h along from the coast, active since Sunday night. until Monday afternoon.
In Newfoundland, warnings overlap across the island. In the north, wind and winter storm warnings predict snowfall of between 20 and 30 centimeters and gusts of up to 100 km/h. Wind advisories also cover the southeastern part of the province, with gusts near 120 km/h near the coast. The eastern end of the island is also subject to a rain warning of 30 to 50 millimeters.
A special weather statement lists varying amounts of snow and rain across the island, beginning early Sunday morning and lasting into Monday. Additionally, there are flood warnings along the Atlantic coast, with higher than normal water levels and very large waves. Those in the area should be aware of flooding and coastal erosion. Affected coastal areas should be avoided.
The Maritimes
A winter storm warning is in effect for Inverness County and surrounding areas in northern Nova Scotia, with snowfalls of 20 to 30 centimeters, possibly up to 60 centimeters in the highlands. Wind gusts could reach 100 km/h, according to the Environment Canada advisory.
Further south, a special weather statement is in effect for the rest of Cape Breton Island and parts of northern mainland Nova Scotia, with between five and 15 centimeters of snow expected and wind gusts between 70 and 90 km/h. Prince Edward Island has a similar weather statement covering Sunday through Monday, with between five and 15 centimeters of snow and wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h expected for the eastern half of the province.
The Magdalena Islands, located north of PEI and west of the north coast of Cape Breton, are under a separate weather statement, with expected snowfall of 15 to 20 centimeters of snow and gusts of 70 to 90 km/h.
Environment Canada warns that blowing snow can affect visibility and endanger travelers, who are advised to expect delays in reaching their destinations.
Quebec
Scattered alerts have been active in parts of Quebec since Saturday morning.
Along the eastern coast, near the Labrador border, a wind advisory is in effect for gusts of between 90 and 100 km/h. Further west along that same coast, winds will be less strong, with a special weather statement warning of gusts of 80 to 90 km/h in Natashquan, Que. area.
A blizzard warning is in effect for the northernmost region of Kangiqsujuaq – Raglan Lake, where a combination of snow and 60 to 80 km/h winds are expected to create near-zero visibility conditions. Outdoor activities should be limited.
Along the James Bay coast, a winter storm warning warns that 20 to 30 centimeters of snow is expected, with gusts of up to 70 km/h and concerns that blowing snow will affect visibility. A little south of there, on the Ontario border, snowfall will be lighter, but winds up to 70 km/h are expected to produce little to no visibility in the vicinity of Waskaganish, Que. Travel is expected to be hazardous and should be postponed in non-essential cases while conditions remain severe.
ontario
Much of southern Ontario is under blizzard warnings starting Saturday, stretching from the Kawartha Lakes area in the northeast to Parry Sound, Ontario. in the north, along the Georgian Bay and Lake Huron shores of the Bruce Peninsula, to Grand Bend, Ontario, southwest of Stratford. Currently, the southern end of the province, as well as the Niagara Region and the Greater Toronto Area, are not under a warning, but a blizzard warning is affecting the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Exact conditions vary by region, but snowfall is expected to range between 15 and 40 centimeters in affected areas. Heavy snow and flurries are expected to create poor visibility conditions. Snow storms will likely last from Saturday into Sunday.
Elsewhere in the province, Sault Ste. Mary, Ontario. It is under a snow storm warning of 15 to 30 centimeters and reduced visibility. An extreme cold warning covers a wide region north of Thunder Bay, Atikokan and Fort Frances, Ontario, with wind chills approaching -40 degrees Saturday morning. Along the coasts of James and Hudson Bays, snow warnings are in effect, with gusts of up to 80 km/h and low visibility expected.
manitoba
All of Manitoba is under an extreme cold warning on Saturday, with wind chill values expected to reach as low as -45 in the northern half of the province and -40 in the south. What Environment Canada describes as “extremely cold weather” is expected to affect much of the Prairies over the weekend, “gradually moderating” in Manitoba on Monday.
saskatchewan
Extreme cold warnings cover the eastern half of Saskatchewan this weekend, as well as the south-central and west-central regions, with wind chills as low as -45 in the north and -40 in the south. Along with all of Manitoba, the “extremely cold weather” is expected to last for much of the weekend, gradually warming from west to east, beginning Sunday.
alberta
An extreme cold warning is affecting parts of Alberta’s east-central border with Saskatchewan, bringing a potential wind chill of -40 degrees that is expected to decrease as the morning progresses.
In the south, near Lethbridge, Alta., a snowfall warning of 10 to 15 centimeters is in effect. Due to heavy snowfall, visibility may suddenly worsen. Travelers are advised to drive with caution and maintain a safe distance on roads.
British Columbia
The Fort St. John region is under an extreme cold warning that began Friday night, with wind chill values near -40 expected to last through Saturday morning. Wind gusts close to 20 kilometers per hour are also expected.
The territories
Scattered warnings are in effect across northern Canada.
In Nunavut, the island community of Coal Harbor is under a blizzard warning, with gusts of up to 100 km/h, a wind chill of -30 degrees and zero visibility. Winds will begin to ease Saturday night and the snowstorm is expected to end Sunday.
An extreme cold warning is active in the Wekweeti area, north of Yellowknife, with wind chills near -50 degrees, which is expected to continue until Monday. The same conditions are expected along the Mackenzie River around Wrigley and Fort Good Hope, NWT, as well as in Deline, on the shore of Great Bear Lake, and further north in the Colville Lake area.
Extreme cold is also expected in the Yukon, north of Whitehorse along the Alaska border and north toward the Beaufort Sea. Thermal sensations of -45 and -50 degrees are expected, varying by region, and frostbite is likely to occur within a few minutes of exposure. In some areas, gusts could reach up to 80 km/h, with visibility close to zero.
