© Postmedia News files
In Ontario, Environment Canada issued snow warnings for the Ottawa, Cornwall and Brockville areas, and "special weather statements" for nearly every other region south of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay that warn of "mixed precipitation today, significant snowfall and a possible flash freeze tonight."
In Quebec, warnings - including winter storm warnings and rainfall warnings - stretched from Gatineau to Natashquan.
Air Canada warned on its website that Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto could see delays in the afternoon or evening because of snow, while Porter Airlines' warning stretched from Windsor to Quebec City.
By early evening, Pearson International Airport in Toronto was dealing with about three dozen delays. Ottawa Airport and Montreal's Trudeau Airport were also experiencing delays.
Snow was already falling Tuesday morning in some areas, with a fierce Arctic air mass not far behind.
"Temperatures will drop sharply from just above zero to well below freezing," Environment Canada said.
The Canadian Automobile Association is warning drivers to take extra care - and has even produced a list of winter driving tips.
Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay were all forecast to see temperatures plunge by 20 degrees C. The sudden drop won't be as severe in Windsor, London, Hamilton and Toronto, but Environment Canada cautioned that Tuesday's rain and wet snow in all those areas will probably cause flash-freezing on roads and sidewalks, creating "hazardous travelling conditions."
CBC meterologist Nick Czernkovich said the flash freeze will mostly be a concern overnight and during the morning commute.
Up to 15 centimetres of snow is expected in the Ottawa area, while in Quebec as much as 40 cm is possible in some regions.
"The combination of the snowfall and plummeting temperatures will make for a difficult Wednesday morning commute," Environment Canada warned.
Most of southern Ontario and Quebec have seen unseasonably balmy temperatures so far this season and little to no snow. In its long-term weather outlook issued earlier this month, Environment Canada forecast a warmer-than-normal winter for both areas.
The storm is forecast to push through all the way to the east coast, with 40 mm of rain expected in parts of Nova Scotia Wednesday, and 35 cm of snow expected in parts of Labrador by early Thursday.
Winds of up to 130 km/h are also expected in Newfoundland's Wreckhouse area and in the Cape Breton Highlands on Wednesday.
lol...the real story must be that at the moment there's really nothing going on planet wise as far as earth changes are concerned...for why else would a "story" like this be run...I guess we need something to fill in the space...I'm 50 years old and having been living in this general area ( that's being reported about in the article ) for most of my life and the so called "storm" is so typical and usual here at this time of the year....and the saying used often articles here of "Sorry folks, nothing going on here, move on" really does literally apply in this case.