Mother nature is offering no break for Londoners tired of shovelling snow.
Environment Canada issued a snow squall watch for London-Middlesex with lake effect squalls expected to develop southeast of Lake Huron before dawn Thursday. The snow squalls could dump another 15 cm across the region within a 12-hour period.
Snow squall watches have also been issued for Sarnia-Lambton and Huron-Perth.
The national weather agency expects the squalls to begin in the Grand Bend area and extend inland toward Strathroy and Mount Brydges.
The heavy snow will reduce visibility, particularly for drivers on Hwy. 402, Hwy. 21, and to a lesser extent Hwy. 401. The accumulating snow may also make walkways and parking lots difficult to navigate.
Ahead of the latest snowfall, city crews have been working to clear excess snow piled along streets, specifically in the downtown.
In addition to the snow, bone-chilling temperatures will continue. Coupled with the windchill the daily high will feel as cold as -25 C. A Cold Weather Alert issued Tuesday by the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) will remain in place until Saturday.
“If you’re planning to spend time outdoors over the next several days, you need to plan ahead and make sure you’re dressing for the conditions,” said MLHU Health Inspector Randy Walker, in a statement. “At these temperatures, the cold can damage exposed skin in a matter of a few minutes, so it is important to cover up and to dress in layers. It’s also very smart to wear a hat and insulated gloves or mittens as body heat is lost through our heads and extremities.”
Those who do not have to travel are advised to stay home until conditions improve.
Frigid weather is expected to give way to more seasonable temperatures on Sunday, while flurries and snow remain in the forecast until Tuesday.
