Wind chill values near -45, rain up to 50 mm: Here’s Canada’s weekend weather forecast

People making their way along a path as workers salt and clean up the snow, slush and rain in the Eastern Ontario community of Carleton Place on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, following a winter storm. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick) (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Feb. 1 marks the home stretch of the three-month meteorological winter, and it’s bringing with it a mixed bag of extreme cold, winter storms and rain across the country.

Here’s what we can expect this weekend as wintry weather conditions shake up provinces and territories.

Extreme cold warnings, snow

Northern communities in Alberta will have to bundle up for very cold wind chill values near -40, expected to continue this morning and last through the weekend, according to CTV Your Morning meteorologist Kelsey McEwen.

Areas bordering Northwest Territories will also be impacted by this period of very cold wind chills.

As for residents in western Alberta including Grande Prairie and central cities like Edmonton, heavy snow will bring 15 to 30 centimetres.

Environment Canada notes that snow will intensify Friday morning and is expected to continue through the night before tapering off Saturday morning.

The weather agency warned that visibility may be suddenly reduced at times, due to heavy snow.

McEwen said snow in northern Alberta will spread eastward through the day on Saturday.

In northern Manitoba, areas like Brochet and Leaf Rapids can expect “dangerous” wind-chill values of -45 or lower through the week.

In northern parts of Saskatchewan including Cluff Lake Mine and Seabee Mine, wind chill values near -45 will continue early Friday morning and moderate by the afternoon in most places.

Overnight and early Saturday morning, wind chills will continue into the weekend near Northwest Territories border, Environment Canada said.

In south-central Saskatchewan, the Regina and Saskatoon areas will experience blowing snow and “poor” near-zero visibility locally, the advisory said, with snowfall and southeast winds between 40 to 60 km/h expected.

Conditions will deteriorate midday Friday near the Alberta boundary and snow and wind will spread southeast through the rest of the day. Conditions will improve Friday evening in the west and midday Saturday in eastern areas, the weather agency said.

Wet, wintry conditions on the west coast

Rainfall warnings were issued for northern sections of Metro Vancouver and western Fraser Valley with a forecast of 50 millimetres of rain Friday due to a low-pressure system.

Environment Canada said heavy rain is expected, with the frozen ground showing “a reduced viability to absorb this rainfall.”

The rain is expected to taper off Friday night.

Winter storm warnings were issued for north of Kelowna, in areas like Kinbasket, north and west Columbia and along the Trans-Canada highway.

A frontal system moving through the interior will bring heavy snow, with total accumulations near 25 centimetres by Friday evening.

From Friday into next week, wintry conditions from a low-pressure system will plague communities on the south coast of B.C. with rain and wet snow over higher elevations – some areas getting four centimetres by Friday morning.

Flurries and cold temperatures are expected this weekend as arctic air occupies the region.

Ontario and Quebec

In northern Ontario, a period of very cold wind child values near -45 is predicted for Friday morning and may return tonight for some areas.

Snow will hit northwestern Ontario Saturday afternoon and then the lower Great Lakes Sunday afternoon, McEwen said.

In northern Quebec, similar conditions are expected to last from Friday night into Saturday morning. Wind chill will reach or exceed -38.

Snow squalls on the east coast

In the Burin Peninsula, southern Avalon Peninsula, and the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, snow squall warnings were issued that could bring up to 15 centimetres of snow.

Combined with westerly winds of 70 to 80 km/h, visibility will be reduced in heavy snow, Environment Canada said. Conditions will end by Friday afternoon in some areas while others will continue until overnight.

Blizzard conditions for the Territories

In northern regions of Northwest Territories, blizzard conditions will bring poor visibility in snow and blowing snow into the weekend.

A long period of strong west winds up to 70 km/h will produce reduced visibility over the Amundsen Gulf, near coastal communities.

Despite blizzard conditions improving Friday, it may redevelop Saturday morning and push into the weekend.

Residents in Clyde River, Nunavut will experience similar conditions with northwest winds as high as 60 to 80 km/h. The blizzard will ease Friday night and winds will ease along the coast of Baffin Island, according to the warning.