80 km/h wind gusts, 10 cm of snow expected in Ottawa over next 24 hours, winter weather travel advisory warns

A winter weather travel advisory for Ottawa is warning of strong wind gusts and blowing snow that could make driving treacherous. CTV's Matt Skube reports.

Ottawa could see wind gusts up to 80 km/h and 10 cm of snow over the next 24 hours, as a cold front moves through the region.

Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory for Ottawa, calling for strong winds followed by “bursts of heavy snow” today and tonight.

“Southwesterly winds will continue to strengthen this afternoon. Conditions will deteriorate this evening as flurries intensify in advance of a strong cold front,” the weather agency said in a statement, upgrading the special weather statement to a winter weather travel advisory.

“Strong wind gusts in combination with heavy flurries will result in reduced visibility in snow and blowing snow. Late this evening, as a sharp cold front moves through, near zero visibility in bursts of heavy snow and blowing snow are possible along with a sharp temperature drop.”

Motorists are being warned that visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times due to the heavy snow and blowing snow.

Ottawa could see southwesterly wind gusts up to 70 km/h or 80 km/h and snowfall accumulations up to 10 cm by Tuesday.

At 3 p.m., Environment Canada reported top wind gusts of 78 km/h.

Ontario Provincial Police are warning motorists to be careful while driving across the region today.

“High winds are causing issues across parts of eastern Ontario, including downed trees and other airborne hazards,” the OPP said.

Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Peter Kimbell says heavy snow will hit the region overnight.

“Those heavy squalls would cause a couple of centimetres to develop. Anybody driving around between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. is the time we could those snow squalls,” Kimbell told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal.

Kimbell says the “culprit” is a low-pressure system in Hudson Bay.

“It’s very deep and it’s causing strong winds across Ontario.

Ottawa forecast

The forecast calls for a mainly cloudy day on Monday with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. High -1 C.

Flurries ending overnight then mainly cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. There is a risk of snow squalls late this evening and overnight. Low -17 C.

The forecast says Ottawa could see 2 to 4 cm of snow tonight.

Tuesday will see a mix of sun and cloud with a 40 per cent chance of flurries in the morning. High -12 C.

Flurries on Wednesday. High 0 C.

The outlook for Thursday calls for a mix of sun and cloud. High -7 C.

Friday will be cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. High -6 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of -6 C and a low of -15 C.

January snowfall

Ottawa has received 25.5 cm of snow in January, with five days left in the month.

There was 6.8 cm of snow last Thursday, followed by 1.2 cm on Saturday and 0.2 cm on Sunday.

Here is a look at the January snowfall totals for Ottawa over the past 11 years:

• 2025: 25.5 cm (26 days)
• 2024: 54.6 cm
• 2023: 96.5 cm
• 2022: 63.3 cm (47.7 cm on Jan. 17)
• 2021: 49 cm
• 2020: 62.7 cm
• 2019: 101.8 cm
• 2018: 63.8 cm
• 2017: 38.6 cm
• 2016: 44.7 cm
• 2015: 55.8 cm