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© Brad Robb / MyNews.CTV.caSnow blankets the city of Toronto after a storm rolled through the area, Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2010.
Canadians are in winter's grip across the country today, as Environment Canada warns of snowy conditions in parts of B.C., Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

On the West Coast, forecasters calling for between 10 and 20 centimetres of accumulation overnight issued snow warnings for southern parts of British Columbia. But conditions will worsen through the morning Wednesday as temperatures climb and the snow turns to rain.

CTV weather specialist Jeff Hutcheson says that's going to create some messy conditions.

"With temperatures on the rise, a lot of that snow's going to be washed away in the rain, and a lot of it, because temperatures are going to be 9 and 7 (degrees Celsius) in Victoria and Vancouver today," Hutcheson said on Canada AM.

"This could create some flooding issues as well, as all that snow begins to melt."

Moving inland, Environment Canada says lingering cold air means the snow will continue until later in the day, dumping up to 20 centimetres more before tapering in the Kootenays by afternoon and over the Columbias by evening.

Canadians across the Prairies can expect seasonally cold temperatures, but are not under any special weather advisories.

The same cannot be said for residents of the snow-stricken Sarnia-Lambton region of southwestern Ontario where Environment Canada has issued another snow squall warning.

"Driving conditions can suddenly change from good visibility under partly cloudy skies to dangerous," the agency warns, suggesting motorists exercise caution as frigid winds blowing off of Lake Huron can suddenly whip exposed snow into whiteout conditions.

Before the squalls diminish Thursday morning, forecasters expect another 15 centimetres of snow to fall on the 10 centimetres that already fell overnight.

Winter-weary Maritimers are also being warned to brace again, as Environment Canada expects the storm creeping up the U.S. East Coast to bring significant snowfall to southeastern New Brunswick and most of Nova Scotia by Thursday morning.

Adding to the weather woes, forecasters say the snow could change to rain at times.

"In addition, strong northeast winds will develop this afternoon giving reduced visibilities in blowing snow," Environment Canada warned early Wednesday.

Up to 25 centimetres of snow is expected to fall on inland areas of central and western Nova Scotia, while forecasters are calling for 15 centimetres of the white stuff in northern sections of the province.