Toronto residents venturing outdoors this weekend are urged to bundle up due to very cold temperatures and a storm that will be impacting the city on Saturday and Sunday.
Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning and special weather statement for the Greater Toronto Area, warning of “bitterly cold temperatures” as a result of a cold front masking most of southern Ontario.
The City of Toronto has also issued an extreme cold weather alert.
Toronto is expected to reach a high of -12 C Saturday and have an evening low of -19 C, while Sunday will be much of the same with a high of -15 C and a nighttime low of -21 C.
Environment Canada has also warned of wind chills near -35 C on Saturday night and Sunday night.
Very cold wind chills are expected to persist into Monday morning.
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The cold temperatures on Saturday will be accompanied by a storm system that is expected to produce between five and 10 centimetres of snow.
Global News meteorologist Anthony Farnell says more snow accumulation will be felt near Lake Ontario, with 15 to 20 centimetres towards the Niagara region.
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WATCH: 8-10 centimetres of snow expected in Toronto this weekend, official says
Sheridan College closed its Oakville and Mississauga campuses today as a result of the weather.
Libraries in Burlington will be closing early at 3 p.m.
Toronto officials say they are prepared for the storm and crews will be out to make sure the roadways are salted and plowed.
“We will continue to patrol the roads and as we see the snow fall and stick to the road and become slippery, we’ll deploy our salt trucks and our first line of defence,” Mark Mills, the city’s superintendent of road operations, said.
“Once the storm progresses and we get to our plowing levels of service, we’ll call out our plows at that time.”
The city also has additional outreach workers on the streets this weekend working to help those who are homeless and may need assistance.
WATCH: Planes take off in snowy weather in Toronto
The annual Project Winter Survival is also happening on Saturday.
The charity group Engage and Change is packaging 3,000 winter survival kits this weekend, which include snacks, hygiene products, winter clothes and blankets.
The packages will then be distributed to the city’s homeless population to help them cope with this weekend’s winter weather.
WATCH ABOVE: Toronto prepares for major winter storm. Matthew Bingley reports.
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