Polar Vortex hovers over central Ontario

Highway 11 between Webbers and Gravenhurst Ont. on Jan. 21, 2025. (Courtesy: Pierre Levesque)

Grab your toques, mittens and hot cocoa; it’s going to be a cold one.

Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for the Barrie area and beyond, while warning of snow squalls for north and western regions of central Ontario.

The extreme cold weather warning is for Barrie, Collingwood, Hillsdale, Midland, Coldwater, Orr Lake, Orillia, Lagoon City and Washago.

Environment Canada warns of temperatures near -30C with the wind chill moving into Wednesday morning.

Snow squall warnings have been issued for Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Baysville, Port Carling, Port Severn, Parry Sound, Rosseau and Killbear. Heavy lake effect snow could add another 20 to 60 centimetres to those regions.

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A snow squall warning is also in effect for Hanover, Dundalk and Southern Grey County, with additional accumulations to up 10 centimetres.

Midland, Coldwater and Orr Lake could see snow in the amounts of five to 15 centimetres, but winds could gust to 70 km/h and result in blowing snow in those areas.

Further west, Owen Sound, the Blue Mountains and Northern Grey County will see about 15 to 40 centimetres of snow, with 50 km/h winds and blowing snow.