Winter weather advisories were issued across the country on Thursday as Environment Canada warned of snow squalls, freezing rain and extreme cold. In Ontario, snow squall warnings remained in place Thursday afternoon in areas to the southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Environment Canada said on its website Thursday morning that some areas could expect up to 50 centimetres of snow. As of 1:30 p.m. EDT, the department said there could be up to 10 cm of additional snow accumulation until conditions improve later in the afternoon. Elsewhere in Ontario, a snow squall watch was issued Thursday afternoon for an area near Thunder Bay, where up to 15 cm of snow is expected in the evening. “An Alberta clipper will push through the region tonight bringing with it gusty winds and snow. Snow squalls are expected to develop ahead of this system and continue through early Friday morning,” Environment Canada said on its website. “Travel may be hazardous. Visibility may be suddenly reduced to near zero at times.” The same storm system prompted a special weather statement for a large area of Ontario west of Thunder Bay, stretching to the Manitoba border. Areas such as Manitoulin Island and the northern portion of the Bruce Peninsula had been under snow squall warnings Thursday morning, but they have since been lifted, according to Environment Canada’s website. Advisories had also been lifted by Thursday afternoon in southern Quebec, where Environment Canada previously warned of limited visibility south of the St. Lawrence River due to flurries. Parts of Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula were under wind warnings Thursday, with northwesterly wind gusts of up to 90 km/h expected overnight into Friday morning. In the Maritimes, central New Brunswick remains under a cold warning, as wind chill temperatures are expected to dip below -30 overnight. Meanwhile, much of western Cape Breton as well as the southwestern coast of Newfoundland is under a snow squall watch, with conditions expected to deteriorate Thursday evening into Friday morning. In parts of northern Newfoundland and western Labrador, Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning, with up to 20 cm expected in some areas, “with locally higher amounts possible.” In Alberta, snowfall warnings remain in effect for an area northwest of Edmonton, where up to 20 cm is expected today. There is also a freezing rain warning in place for the 100 Mile House region of B.C.
