Listen to this article
Approximately 2 minutes
The audio version of this article was created using artificial intelligence technology. Pronunciation errors may occur. We work with our partners to continually analyze and improve results.
Western Canadians experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures are in for a rude awakening.
The Alberta Clipper brings a huge pile of snow to the Prairies and parts of northern Ontario, followed by a blast of cold Arctic air.
Parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba will experience snowstorms Wednesday morning that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said will make travel “dangerous and likely impossible due to near-zero visibility.”
Regina and other parts of Saskatchewan are also expected to experience freezing rain before the storm turns to snow, making travel even more dangerous.
The ECCC's snow accumulation forecast for the next three days shows a band of snow extending across the Prairies, northern Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The ECCC forecast also shows large areas of the country will quickly experience cold weather. Wednesday night it will be -23 C in Regina and -19 C in Winnipeg.
The federal weather agency also issued a cold warning for parts of the northern Prairies due to wind gusts that make temperatures feel as cold as the northern Prairies. –45 C.
This map shows how Arctic air will rush south over the next two days.
This type of weather brings severe warnings from the ECCC.
The agency issued yellow and orange weather warnings for much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan on Tuesday.
The Meteorological Agency of Canada recently changed its warning system to color coded. Yellow – normal and local weather phenomena; orange – severe, widespread and unusual events; and red represents very dangerous and rare events with extreme and long-lasting consequences.
And we remind you: winter officially begins only on Sunday.
