Another round of winter weather is taking aim at eastern Canada Wednesday as snow, high winds and freezing rain sweep across Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Plows are out on the major highways across southern Ontario, which has reported close to 20 centimetres of snow in Windsor. Toronto has reported roughly 13 centimetres.
Ontario Provincial Police are warning drivers to adjust to road conditions, but say they expect to deal with anywhere from 400 to 800 accidents throughout the province because of the storm.
A number of school districts have cancelled classes for the day.
The storm also delayed the return of the body of Canadian Trooper Michael Hayakaze, who was killed in Afghanistan last weekend. A repatriation ceremony was scheduled for this afternoon at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario, but it's been delayed until Thursday afternoon.
Train derailment
A CN train derailment west of Toronto has added to the travel woes, affecting Via and GO trains in southern Ontario. Nineteen cars left the tracks in Brampton early Wednesday, but no injuries have been reported.
GO Transit has cancelled a number of routes, while Via Rail says the derailment has also disrupted its service between Toronto and Sarnia.
Montreal has reported about 14 centimetres of snowfall and winds are expected to increase in Quebec throughout the day. Another 10 centimetres could fall in southeastern parts of the province and officials warn blowing snow could cause problems on the roads.
Many school boards in Montreal and Quebec City cancelled classes, while treacherous road conditions have been reported west of Montreal and in the Mauricie region in central Quebec.
Close to 25 centimetres of snow has fallen on Ottawa, with another 10 centimetres on the way. That area could see freezing rain and high winds.
Most schools remained open, but bus transportation in Renfrew county, Ottawa and districts to the south and east is cancelled.
Flights delayed
The storm has caused a number of flight cancellations and delays in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax. Airport officials are advising travellers to check ahead before they go to the airport.
Freezing rain is forecast for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and many schools in those provinces have been closed for the day. Classes are cancelled in the Annapolis Valley, the Halifax region, and counties including Cape Breton, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby, Lunenburg and Queens.
Salt trucks are on the highways, but drivers are warning the ice is quickly refreezing.
"As fast as they go out and go over the runs, the ice is covering up right over the product and they're having a hard time getting around," said driver Stephen Callahan.
Snow is falling in parts of New Brunswick, although the forecast says that could change to freezing rain or rain as the day progresses. Similar predictions hold for Prince Edward Island.
The freezing rain will turn to rain in southern New Brunswick and P.E.I. later Wednesday.
Newfoundland and Labrador will begin feeling the effects of the storm late Wednesday or early Thursday. As much as 25 millimetres of rain is expected in southeastern parts of the province with winds gusting up to 110 km/h.
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