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Environment Canada has issued a yellow snow squall warning for parts of southwestern Ontario, with hazardous travel conditions expected to persist through Tuesday morning.
A snow squall is a sudden, intense and short-lived burst of heavy snow and strong winds that causes near-total whiteout conditions and rapidly freezing road surfaces.
The warning covers the Watford-Pinery Park area in eastern Lambton County and Strathroy-Komoka in western Middlesex County. Snow squalls and blowing snow are continuing, reducing visibility to near zero at times.
Environment Canada says local snowfall amounts could reach up to five centimetres. Strong northwesterly wind gusts between 50 and 70 kilometres per hour are blowing loose snow across roads, creating whiteout conditions.
Millions of Canadians remain under yellow and orange weather warnings from Environment Canada on Tuesday morning after a winter storm brought freezing rain, blowing snow and strong winds across the eastern half of the country. Parts of Ontario and Quebec braced for another messy day on the roads, while in Halifax, flights were resuming after the weather shut down the airport.
Lake-effect snow coming off Lake Huron is expected to lift north of the area later Tuesday morning. Until then, widespread blowing snow remains the primary concern.
“Travel will likely be hazardous,” the weather agency said in its alert, urging drivers to delay trips if possible and to be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions.
Drivers can check road conditions through the Ministry of Transportation by visiting Ontario 511, following 511Ontario on social media or calling 5-1-1.
The snow squall warning comes as storm systems continue to batter parts of Ontario and Quebec. A winter storm on Monday brought freezing rain, blowing snow and strong winds across Eastern Canada, leaving tens of thousands of customers without power in Ontario at one point.