Blizzards, snowfall, extreme cold and fog: Weather advisories for 12 provinces and territories
Environment Canada issued weather alerts in nearly every province and territory on the first day of 2026.
Snow, strong winds, cold temperatures and fog are expected across Canada on New Year’s Day, depending on where you live.
Environment Canada map shows where weather advisories and statements have been issued as of Thursday morning. (Environment Canada) An Environment Canada map shows where weather advisories and statements have been issued as of Thursday morning. (Environment Canada)
Atlantic Canada
On Prince Edward Island, special weather statements advised of significant snowfall in some areas.
Parts of Prince, Kings and Queens counties could see between 10 to 15 centimetres of snow, the forecast said.
“A developing low pressure system is expected to bring a period of snowfall across much of the province this evening,” the statements read.
“Snowfall amounts may vary considerably across the island as snow is expected to changeover to rain for some areas. Western parts of the island will likely see the highest snowfall totals with less over eastern portions.”
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia also have snowfall warnings in effect.
Areas of both provinces could see up to 10 to 15 centimetres of snow, with some parts of New Brunswick possibly seeing as much as 20 centimetres, and one area of Nova Scotia under a wind warning.
Channel-Port aux Basques and Vicinity, in Newfoundland and Labrador, was also under a wind warning Thursday morning.
According to the advisories, affected areas could see strong wind gusts of between 90 and 120 km/h, posing a significant risk of damage.
Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba
In Quebec, the Amqui, Kuujjuarapik, Puvirnituq, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and Forillon National Park-Gaspé areas are under warnings ranging from winter storm and blizzard to snowfall and wind.
Affected areas nearby could see between 15 to 40 centimetres of snow, with some regions seeing wind gusts reaching up to 90 km/h.
Snow squall, blizzard and cold weather warnings are in effect in several areas of Ontario. Residents of areas including Barrie and Waterloo can expect to see 10 to 30 centimetres of snow by Friday night, forecasters said.
In Manitoba, a blizzard warning was issued for Churchill, with strong wind gusts of up to 90 km/h expected.
Northeastern areas of Manitoba, including Brochet, Leaf Rapids, Lynn Lake and Pukatawagan, are under cold weather warnings, with wind chills of -45 to -50 expected.
Saskatchewan, Alberta
Weather advisories issued across Saskatchewan warn of extreme cold in the north, including in Cree Lake, and fog further south, including in Regina.
Wind chill values near -45 were expected Thursday morning in areas covered by cold weather warnings. While conditions were expected to improve in the afternoon, wind chill values near -45 are possible again at night, Environment Canada warned.
According to the statement, “frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with wind chill.”
Dense fog in affected areas was forecast to last through the morning, with conditions expected to improve by midday.
A large swath of Alberta is covered by weather advisories warning of snowfall, cold or fog.
Areas impacted by fog, such as Richdale and Twining, could experience near-zero visibility, the forecast warned.
Areas north of Edmonton, like Webster and Willow Valley, could see between 15 to 30 centimetres of snow.
Higher north in the province, wind chill values of -40 and overnight lows of -30 are expected in areas like Wood Buffalo and Garden Creek.
British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Several areas of British Columbia were covered by snowfall and fog warnings Thursday morning.
Regions including North and South Peace River and Williston could see between 10 to 15 centimetres of snow, the forecast said.
The Vancouver and Nanaimo areas were warned to expect fog that may reduce visibility to near zero up until Friday in some spots.
“Travel will likely be hazardous in some locations. Visibility will likely be suddenly reduced at times,” the statement read.
Further north, the Northwest Territories’ North Slave Region, including Wekweeti-Whati-Behchoko, was under a cold weather warning. Wind chill values near -50 are expected.
In Nunavut, blizzard, winter storm and wind warnings were issued in some areas of the territory.
Regions including Arviat, Baker and Lake Rankin could experience near zero visibility due to blizzard conditions, with strong winds of up to 80 to 100 km/h.
As of 11 a.m. EST, no weather warnings were in effect in Yukon.
