Parts of Canada gear up for frigid temperatures, heavy snow into the weekend

Your Morning meteorologist Kelsey McEwen has an update on heavy snow and winds in the Prairies, and a drop in temperatures in northern Ontario.

Winter’s full force has hit parts of Canada, and residents are facing a mixed bag of cold air, wind and snow into the weekend.

Three provinces in the Prairies are facing weather advisories and warnings Friday morning, with parts of Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador under alerts as well.

Here’s a look at where:

Snow, wind, cold air grip the Prairies

CTV Your Morning meteorologist Kelsey McEwen says a potent combination of freezing temperatures, powerful winds and heavy snow is causing wintry, treacherous conditions.

Calgary is feeling the chill with temperatures dropping 12 C colder Friday afternoon compared to yesterday, McEwen said, and though conditions will stay very cold through the weekend, they are expected to warm up next week.

In southern Alberta, blowing snow advisories have been issued, with a forecast of strong northwest winds between 90 to 100 km/h. Poor visibility is expected but, conditions will improve by Friday mid-morning, Environment Canada said.

Heavy snow will plague communities along and north of the Yellowhead, McEwen said.

In Manitoba, blizzard warnings are issued across the provinces including Winnipeg, Red River Valley, Interlake, Manitoba Lakes and areas just to the west of Lake Manitoba. Environment Canada warned that wind gusts could climb to 70 km/h and wind-chill values will fall throughout the day, hitting -50 by late Friday afternoon.

The blizzard will end tonight, it added.

Southern Manitoba will experience poor visibility due to snowfall and blowing snow as strong northerly winds will develop in the wake of a cold front. The advisory says conditions will improve in western Manitoba Friday afternoon and eastern Manitoba Friday evening as the winds taper down.

Across southern Saskatchewan, including Moose Jaw and Regina, widespread poor visibility in blowing snow continues Friday morning with northerly winds gusting up to 70 km/h.

Polar air to spread across eastern Canada

The polar jet stream has shifted southward, bringing arctic air not only to Canada but deep into the United States.

Currently, the jet stream is over the Gulf of Mexico, McEwen said, which means cold air arrives in northwestern Ontario Saturday and the rest of the province by Sunday.

It will travel towards Atlantic Canada by Tuesday and Wednesday, according to McEwen.

Areas as far south as Florida will also be bracing for unusually cold weather, with single-digit highs in Orlando and even the possibility of snow in New Orleans, McEwen said.

In areas in northern Ontario, snow may be heavy at times with total snowfall ranging between 10 to 15 centimetres Friday before tapering to light flurries tonight. Strong northerly winds of up to 60 km/h may result in blowing snow.

Environment Canada warns that reduced visibilty may present hazards for travellers.

In southwestern Newfoundland and Labrador, a special weather statement is issued for areas like Burgeo and Channel-Port aux Basques and the vicinity. The statement said rainfall between 40 to 70 millimetres is expected Sunday.

“The frozen ground has reduced ability to absorb this rainfall,” the statement read.

Mild temperatures will accompany the rain and gust winds may cause tree branches to break, it warned.

Blizzard conditions for Nunavut

In Arviat and Baker Lake, blizzard conditions developed Thursday night and are expected to continue Friday with zero visibility in blowing snow due to wind gusts of up to 80 km/h. Wind chill values will reach near -57 in Baker Lake and -46 in Arviat, Friday.

The blizzard is forecast to end Friday overnight.

In Gjoa Haven, communities should gear up for a period of very cold wind chills nearing -55 Friday night into Saturday.

What is a polar vortex?

A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding each of the Earth’s poles, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Typically, during the northern hemisphere’s winter, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward and often resulting in outbreaks of Arctic air across Canada and into the United States.

The NOAA notes that it’s the current of winds at the edge of the polar vortex, known as the polar jet stream, that plays a big role in our day-to-day winter weather in the mid-latitudes, not the vortex itself.

When the polar vortex picks up in strength, the polar jet stream stays further north, and at the surface, this “stable stratospheric state” is linked to an even colder than usual arctic. When that stable state is disrupted, and the cold air spreads south, much more of the country is impacted.