The extreme cold has settled in across midwestern Ontario.
Arctic air that moved into the region late Sunday night is continuing to hang around with the temperature combined with the windchill it felt like minus 30 C outside Tuesday morning.
The biting cold is expected to stick around through Wednesday, according to Environment Canada.
Anyone heading outside, is advised to dress in layers to avoid cold-related illnesses like frostbite and hypothermia. There is also a reminder for pet owners to keep their furry friends indoors. The Guelph Humane Society said that even if your pet appears healthy and accustomed to the cold, it’s safest to keep them indoors to avoid potential risks. The agency added that cats should never be allowed out when temperatures plummet as they are highly susceptible to extreme cold.
While Environment Canada has not issued an extreme cold weather alert for midwestern Ontario as it has for parts of southwestern Ontario, there are other snow-related advisories in place.
Bruce and Grey counties are under a snow squall warning. Lake effect snow could bring 10 to 40 centimetres to the area, especially over the Bruce Peninsula and from Chesley and east towards Markdale. A winter weather travel advisory was ended for north Huron around 8:30 a.m., but the region is still expected to see 5 centimetres of flurries throughout the day.
Strong winds will kick up the fresh snow, reducing visibility and making driving hazardous. Grey-Bruce OPP are asking people who can to stay home due to the severe road conditions and whiteouts.
"If you're out travelling today, please drive safe, turn on all of your vehicle's headlights, maintain a safe driving distance and don't break through snow squalls. Just let off on the gas," Constable Krista Linthorne said in a video posted to social media. "If you do not have to travel please stay home and be safe."
Bruce Road 23 from Bruce Road 15 to Bruce Road 20 and Highway 21 from Kincardine to Southampton have been closed due to the snowy conditions.
There were numerous school bus cancellations in Huron-Perth and Grey-Bruce Tuesday. As well, Bluewater District School Board closed all schools in Kincardine and Port Elgin. The Municipality of Kincardine closed its Municipal Administration Centre and the Tiverton Sports Centre for the day and in Owen Sound, public transit is running on the hour instead of every half hour. You can find the full list on the CKNX closures page.