Ottawa is already under an extreme chill warning. Temperatures will drop to -35 C and wind chill.
Environment Canada has now issued a winter storm warning in addition to an extreme cold alert for Ottawa.
The weather agency issued a winter storm watch Saturday, January 15 and said that winter storm conditions are likely Sunday night into Monday.
Heavy snow is forecasted with snow accumulation reaching between 25 to 40 cm by Monday night.
Monday morning can bring up to two to five centimetres of snow per hour.
While the watch has been issued for Ottawa, other areas under the watch include Simcoe-Caledonia-Haldimand, Niagara and much of eastern Ontario, including Kingston.
“There remains uncertainty in the exact track of the system which will affect where the area of heaviest snow sets up,” Environment Canada explained. “Snowfall amounts are expected to decrease sharply along the western edge of the storm system. Local blowing snow is also possible Monday afternoon and evening with gusty northerly to northwesterly winds.”
Avoid travel if possible, the weather agency added, as it’s expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.
It is possible for surfaces such as roads, walkways, parking lots, and highways to become slippery and icy.
This could also have an impact on urban rush hour traffic.
Ottawa is also under an extreme cold warning with conditions dropping to as low as -35 C with the wind chill Saturday morning.
Extreme cold wind chills of -35 C are expected to continue Saturday night into Sunday morning, with the temperature dropping to a moderate level Saturday afternoon.
Environment Canada warns that frostbite can occur in these conditions, especially if there is wind chill.