Frigid temps to ring in the new year in Eastern Canada, as B.C.'s North Coast recovers from rain and flooding
A mix of freezing rain, blowing snow and strong winds blanketed some regions
Canada's cold crunch is continuing into the new year after a winter storm slammed Ontario and Quebec Monday and Tuesday, wreaking havoc on the roads and leaving tens of thousands without power.
Millions were under yellow and orange weather warnings from Environment Canada as storms sweep through Ontario and Quebec.
Snow squalls, blowing snow and cold temperatures followed Monday's freezing rain, further complicating travel.
In Ontario and Quebec, storm fronts brought freezing rain, blowing snow and strong winds, leaving tens of thousands without power at one point.
Much of Canada has been blasted with a number of weather systems over the last week, ranging from blizzards and cold snaps to freezing rain. Cold temperatures have followed in eastern provinces and are expected to last until the end of the week, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) forecasts.
In B.C., some residents were left stranded after heavy rainfall washed out a section of Highway 16 in Haida Gwaii, connecting the north and south parts of the island.
Residents said the washout cut off a critical north-south route on the archipelago, affecting access to hospitals and critical infrastructure.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says an atmospheric river system from the Pacific has stalled over B.C.'s North Coast, bringing a prolonged period of rain to Kitimat and nearby areas.
A flood watch from the B.C. River Forecast Centre for Haida Gwaii and the North Coast has been in place since Dec. 27, with nearby rivers possibly reaching or exceeding bank levels due to the rain.
Meanwhile, a strengthening bomb cyclone is barrelling its way across the northern United States, unleashing severe winter weather in the Midwest and aiming at the East Coast.
Click on this interactive map on the red, orange and yellow areas to get more information on the weather alerts across Canada:
The federal weather agency says some areas northeast of Quebec City and into northern New Brunswick could see between 15 and 40 centimetres of snow Tuesday, along with high winds.
In London and the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay regions, ECCC is warning of continuing blizzard conditions with "dangerous snow squalls," advising residents to beware of prolonged disruptions to transportation, services and utilities.
"Dangerous snow squalls and significant blowing snow continue," the agency said, noting snow could continue falling until Thursday and, in some places, reach 50 centimetres of accumulation. "Near-zero visibility remains the primary concern due to northwesterly winds gusting 50 to 70 km/h."
Those winds are expected to ease by Tuesday evening, the warning said.
A large swath of northern Ontario, stretching east and covering northern parts of Quebec as well, is under yellow warning for "difficult winter conditions," which include about 10 more centimetres of snow, strong winds and reduced visibility.
Parts of the Atlantic region were under yellow or orange warnings Tuesday, with additional snow and strong winds expected in northern New Brunswick, as well as snow squalls forecast for the Nova Scotia counties of Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Colchester and Cumberland.
Meanwhile, Air Canada cautioned on its website that flights to and from Montreal, Ottawa and both Toronto airports could still be affected Tuesday, as the airline recovers from a weather-related backlog.
It comes after a number of flights were cancelled or delayed in Montreal, Toronto, London, Ont., Halifax and St. John's on Monday.
Southern Quebec is no longer under weather warnings, but is seeing colder temperatures after freezing rain coated streets and sidewalks in Montreal, prompting 100 911 calls an hour on Monday morning, an ambulance service reported. Despite a thaw later in the day Monday, many surfaces are once again covered in ice in Montreal and other parts of Southern Quebec as the temperature hits –13 C (feeling like –24 C), according to ECCC.
With files from The Canadian Press