The early taste of harsh winter weather that has gripped Western Canada begins its move into Ontario and Quebec today, bringing snow and frigid temperatures.
While skies will clear over Alberta and Saskatchewan on Wednesday, Edmonton and Calgary will remain frozen with forecast highs of –13 C and –14 C, respectively.
Regina and Saskatoon will get some light snow and highs of –10 C and –11 C, respectively. Normal temperatures for the region could be more like 0 C.
Mae Madison, 9, bundles up before sledding down Peets Hill in Bozeman, Mont., on Tuesday. U.S. forecasters warn that the cold will linger. (Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez/Associated Press)
Across northern Ontario, snow began falling last night in places such as Timmins and Kapuskasing. Chapleau recorded 32 centimetres.
"Winter storm and snowfall warnings do remain in effect … from Chapleau to Moosonee, and freezing rain warnings are still in place this morning in central Quebec from Matagami east to Saguenay," CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland said Wednesday.
Environment Canada has issued weather warnings for much of northeastern Ontario.
The agency has issued a winter storm warning for Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Kirkland Lake and Moosonee.
"Lake effect snow will be an issue today as cold air roars across the [Great Lakes], and a snow squall warning is in effect for eastern Superior (Sault Ste. Marie)," Scotland said.
Snow-covered horses graze a pasture near Cremona, Alta., on Sunday during the first heavy snowfall of the season. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)
Parts of southern Ontario will see snow squalls from the Bruce Peninsula through Parry Sound to western sections of Algonquin Park.
In Toronto, temperatures will hover just above freezing, with a chance of flurries on Thursday and Friday.
"In southern Quebec, Montreal will also see some rain this morning (with gusty winds) but it dries out this afternoon with a high of 9 C, Scotland reported.
The Maritime provinces will get showers and some freezing drizzle, making for risky driving conditions.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's will get a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 3 C.
In the U.S., the arctic chill that has gripped the Upper Midwest and Rockies is spreading.
As much as a metre of snow blanketed parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, while up to 46 centimetres fell in northern Wisconsin, and parts of central Minnesota saw more than 41 cm.
The chill was expected to hit the Appalachians and mid-South by Wednesday morning, and the East Coast by Thursday.
In the Texas Panhandle, temperatures plunged from 21 C to below 10 C. Oklahoma City went from a high of 26.7 C Monday to a low of –1 C Tuesday morning.
In the Dakotas, wind chills made it feel like –29 C below in some places.
