Extreme cold and snow squall warnings for Waterloo region and surrounding areas

A blast of cold Arctic air is expected to reach southern Ontario Thursday night paired with possible heavy blowing snow, according to Environment Canada.
The agency warns of wind chill values in the minus 30s overnight Thursday and into Friday morning in the Region of Waterloo, Guelph, Erin, Wellington County, Mount Forest, and Arthur.
“After moderating during the day Friday, wind chills may reach minus 30 again Friday night into early Saturday morning,” the alert read.
Environment Canada said risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter.
Officials are advising people to cover up as frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.
A snow squall watch is also in effect for the same areas.
On Thursday just before 5 p.m., Environment Canada upgraded its snow squall watch to a snow squall warning for Waterloo region, Guelph, Erin and Southern Wellington County.
Periods of brief but intense snowfall are expected with visibility rapidly reduced due to heavy and blowing snow.
Officials believe it will start early Thursday evening with whiteout conditions expected. Westerly winds gusting to 60 km/h could produce near zero visibility at times.
“Bitterly cold air will follow in the wake of the front, with very cold wind chill values expected tonight into Friday morning,” Environment Canada said.
The agency is asking drivers to prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions, to watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop.
As of Friday morning at 5 a.m., the snow squall warning for Waterloo region, Guelph, Erin and Southern Wellington County had lifted, with only the extreme cold warning still in effect.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | 3 people stabbed at Halifax-area high school; 1 person in custody
Police in Halifax say three people have been stabbed and a student is in custody following a weapons complaint at a high school in Bedford, N.S. The victims were taken to hospital for treatment, but the extent of their injuries is not yet known.

W5 Investigates | How did a healthy teen die at a minor hockey camp?
The parents of young Ontario hockey player Ben Teague have been searching for answers since he died while at a team retreat in 2019. The mystery about what happened and the code of silence in hockey culture is explored in CTV W5's 'What Happened to Ben,' on CTVNews.ca and W5's official YouTube channel.
Conservatives forcing MPs to vote on striking new foreign interference study
In an effort to keep the foreign interference story at the forefront, and to do an apparent end run around the Liberal filibuster blocking one study from going ahead, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has forced the House to spend the day debating a motion instructing an opposition-dominated House committee to strike its own review.
Amazon cuts 9,000 more jobs, bringing 2023 total to 27,000
Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.
Donald Trump's call for protests gets muted reaction by supporters
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated mostly muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap.
LIVE @ 11:30 A.M. | 6 still missing after Old Montreal fire; Mayor to address media
Officials are still looking for victims after a fire ripped through a building in Old Montreal last week, killing at least one person. At a press conference Monday morning, spokespersons for the Montreal police and Montreal fire department said six people are still missing. They come from various locations in Quebec, Ontario and the U.S.
opinion | Biden's Canada visit is long overdue, expert says
Questions abound as to why U.S. President Biden is only now making the visit to Canada, more than two years into his presidency.
Ontario court permits Nordstrom Canada to liquidate closing stores
Bargain hunters are one step closer to seeing sales at Nordstrom's closing Canadian locations. At a hearing at Osgoode Hall in Toronto on Monday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice gave the U.S. retailer's Canadian branch permission to start liquidating its merchandise.
Canada's among central banks try to calm markets after UBS deal to buy Credit Suisse
Some of the world's largest central banks came together on Sunday to stop a banking crisis from spreading as Swiss authorities persuaded UBS Group AG to buy rival Credit Suisse Group AG in a historic deal.