Up to 40 cm of snow expected to blast Ottawa-Gatineau

A "highly impactful winter storm" packing up to 40 centimetres of snow is expected to wallop the capital region starting Wednesday evening, Environment Canada says.

There are winter storm and snowfall warnings in place for nearly all of eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

The most serious warning is for eastern Ontario along the Ottawa River as far south as Bancroft, Perth and Russell. Forecasters are predicting 30 to 40 centimetres of snowfall, with up to five centimetres per hour falling at the storm's peak overnight.

It's the highest snowfall amount in a string of warnings from Sudbury to Fredericton.

Environment Canada meteorologist Trudy Kidd said this will be the biggest winter storm to hit Ottawa since nearly 48 centimetres fell on Jan. 17, 2022.

Western Quebec is expected to get 25 to 40 centimetres of snow, sometimes heavy and blowing.

South of Ottawa, communities such as Alexandria, Cornwall, Tweed, Westport and Winchester should get 20 to 30 centimetres.

The rest of the Highway 401 corridor, including Belleville, Brockville and Kingston, have the snowfall warning of about 15 to 25 centimetres of snow and possible ice pellets overnight.

Prince Edward County has a special weather statement for about 10 to 15 centimetres of snow and the risk of freezing rain overnight.

Timing-wise, the storm is travelling northeast and should hit Lake Ontario first. Hourly forecasts suggest it could start around Kingston by 6 p.m., and hit Ottawa after 8 p.m.

The heaviest snow should come overnight in eastern Ontario. It should end Thursday morning in Prince Edward County, taper off in the afternoon in the rest of eastern Ontario and could end Thursday evening in western Quebec.

Travel changes

Environment Canada recommends avoiding travel under eastern Ontario's winter storm warnings and to be ready to adjust driving style elsewhere.

Motorists who must travel should tell someone about their plans before setting out. They're also advised to charge their cell phones and have food, water, a flashlight and medical supplies including medication and a first aid kit on hand.

Const. Shawn Peever with the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP said drivers should slow down, leave plenty of space between vehicles, clear their vehicles of snow and keep scrapers, washer fluid and a small shovel on hand.

Most western Quebec schools are closing Thursday because of the snow. Some school buses are being cancelled in eastern Ontario.

The City of Ottawa has winter parking bans in place for Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some city parking lots will be made available.

For the first time since the plan was drawn up in 2022, OC Transpo is reducing its bus schedule because of the weather. Some routes may not run at all. The O-Train schedule is not affected.

The Ottawa International Airport Authority said Wednesday morning some flights are already being changed.