A powerful winter storm hit Ontario and Quebec, bringing record snowfall on Sunday and Monday. This storm is now heading towards Atlantic Canada and is expected to cause extreme cold.
In Toronto, the storm dropped 46 centimeters of snow in just one day, marking the highest daily total ever recorded at Pearson Airport. January is now noted as the snowiest month since records started in 1937, with a total of 88.2 centimeters.
As the storm moved east, Montreal remained under a snowfall warning. Many schools in Montreal announced closures due to the weather. In eastern Ontario, snowfall continued on Monday morning, but the worst was moving into the Maritimes. Geoff Coulson, a meteorologist, mentioned that Atlantic provinces could see between 20 to 30 centimeters of snow.
Snowstorms of this magnitude are uncommon for cities like Toronto. However, areas in Atlantic Canada often face similar storms. Coulson noted that places like Nova Scotia are used to strong winter storms that sweep in from the eastern coast.
In Nova Scotia, many schools and flights were canceled as the storm passed through. The area anticipates snow lasting into Tuesday, with Halifax expecting around 40 centimeters. Wind gusts could reach 70 km/h, reducing visibility significantly.
Islanders in Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick may see 15 to 25 centimeters of snow. Southern Newfoundland expects about 15 centimeters.
What makes this storm unique is the chilly temperatures following the snowfall. Typically, places like southern Ontario see a thaw soon after heavy snow. “But this time, it’s set to stay cold for a while,” Coulson explained. The long forecast indicates a trend of colder-than-normal temperatures through mid-February.
Fans of winter may enjoy the extended snow cover, but those who dread it might not find this news encouraging. For more detailed weather updates, you can check Environment Canada’s warnings here.
