Daytime Brief: Icy surfaces and extreme wind chills welcome students back to school

Monday, January 5, 2015, 12:31 PM - It's back to school and back to work for many Monday morning, amidst conditions that leave no doubt as to what season it is.

The effects of storms on both coasts linger into the new week, while Ontario and Quebec struggle with freezing rain and snow squalls, with a massive deep freeze continuing on the Prairies. 

Here's a regional breakdown.

Atlantic Canada 

Temperatures plunge after weekend storm. 

• Nova Scotia: Rain is ending as a cold front associated with the low crosses the province. Pedestrians and motorists are urged to exercise caution as surfaces may become icy. 
• New Brunswick: Strong westerly winds are bringing a very cold airmass. Temperatures will drop to around -25^oC Monday night with strong westerly winds persisting. Wind chill values below minus 35 are expected overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. 
• Newfoundland: The system that hammered the Maritimes Sunday will bring will widespread snow and freezing rain to the island Monday. Strong southwesterly winds gusting to 100 km/h are forecast to spread over southern parts of the Avalon Peninsula. Warnings are in effect.

Ontario 

Province to see coldest temperatures so far this season. Snow squalls to affect areas southeast of the Great Lakes. 

• Northern Ontario: Extreme cold warnings are in effect for just about every city across northern Ontario. In the far northeast, wind chill values of -45 to -50 are possible. Conditions should improve somewhat by mid-day.
• Southern Ontario: Significant snow squalls will affect areas to the southeast of the Great Lakes at times, with warnings and watches in effect. Fresh frigid Arctic air will bring the coldest weather so far this season to areas stretching from Windsor all the way east to Ottawa. Minimum temperatures of -20^oC or below on the coldest days are likely, except for locales right along the shorelines of the Great Lakes and across Southwestern Ontario. Over Eastern Ontario and Algonquin a few -30^oC readings are quite possible on Thursday morning. 

Quebec

Extreme wind chill as thousands remain in the dark.

• The province is seeing the remnants of the passing low, with lingering snow flurries. No warnings are in effect for the St. Lawrence Valley, including Montreal and Quebec City. 
• Behind the system, winds will strengthen to 70 km/h to 80 km/h across the province, including in Metro Montreal.
• Temperatures well below seasonal thanks to these wind chills.

Prairies 

It's a bad week to be outside on the Prairies, with the dangerous cold currently gripping the region showing little sign of abating. 

• Lighter winds (than Sunday) are forecast for Monday, but temperatures will remain well below normal. No Prairie city cracked the -15^oC mark Sunday, and most cities were actually colder than Yellowknife.
• Alberta will see some snow along the foothills with a departing system. Snow eases into the afternoon and evening, picking up again for the overnight into Tuesday. Edmonton should stay clear, but Calgary will reach 10 cm.

British Columbia 

B.C. is still feeling the effects of the storm that rolled in over the weekend.

• Lower Mainland: Rainfall warnings in effect for Metro Vancouver, replacing a winter storm warning as milder temperatures moved in. Additional 30-40 mm of rain for Vancouver through to Tuesday morning.
• Interior: Winter storm warnings still in effect, along with special weather statements for the mountain passes. The worst-hit areas could see up to 50 cm by the time the system's effects end. Avalanche danger is high for Monday and Tuesday.