Major storm moves into N.L., another one on its way to Ontario and Quebec

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The eastern half of the country is forecast to be hit with a second major storm in less than one week, bringing high winds, lots of snow and travel complications.

On Friday, a low pressure system that brought up to 45 cm of snow to parts of Ontario and Quebec earlier this week slammed into Newfoundland and Labrador, and another big storm is on its way, said Jennifer Smith, a national warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

The encroaching storm could bring up to 30 cm of snow to parts of southern Ontario and Quebec beginning Saturday, mostly in areas already digging out from major snowfall, she said. The storm is expected to continue eastward to Atlantic Canada early next week.

“It’s been a busy winter,” Smith said in an interview. “Lots of active systems.”

The culprit is a stubborn high-pressure system that has been anchored over the prairies for more than a week, she said, which has brought persistent frigid temperatures and extreme cold warnings. Saskatoon has seen overnight lows plunge to -40 C with the wind chill, she said. The cold is likely to stick around until some time next week, she added.

That cold front is pushing low-pressure systems to the southeast, sending punishing storms to Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

The back-end of the slow-moving storm that hit Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes earlier in the week was making a mess of Newfoundland and Labrador and bringing high winds to western P.E.I. and Cape Breton, said Jim Prime, an Environment Canada meteorologist.

Snowfalls of up to 45 and 55 centimetres were in the forecast Friday for central, western and southern Newfoundland and the north coast of Labrador. In St. John’s, schools delayed opening as residents braced for flurries and freezing rain.

“By Sunday, things should have calmed down, but then there’s going to be another storm on Monday,” Prime said.

Ice in the ocean around P.E.I. was shielding the Island from snow on Friday, but the same wasn’t true of Cape Breton, where 30 to 45 cm of snow was expected in the west, he said.

Snow will begin in southern Ontario early on Saturday, said Steven Flisfeder, also an Environment Canada meteorologist. It will lighten up overnight but then intensify again on Sunday, as it continues east toward Quebec.

“The heavier amounts are expected for Sunday, as the low pressure system continues eastward,” he said. Snow squalls will develop in the cold air over Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, bringing flurries to the surrounding eastern shores — areas that have been hit “time and time again” this winter, Flisfeder said.

But there is good news, he said: most parts of southern Ontario will be fairly clear for the Family Day holiday on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2025.

The Canadian Press