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Winter storm: Airlines warn of flight delays, cancellations for major Canadian cities

Click to play video: 'Large winter storm set to hit southern Ontario'
Large winter storm set to hit southern Ontario
Global News meteorologist Anthony Farnell provides his latest storm forecast. Depending on where you live, the storm will bring freezing rain, ice pellets, a messy mix, or just snow beginning on Wednesday. – Feb 22, 2023

Airlines are warning that travel to and from Central Canada may be affected by a winter storm sweeping in from the west.

The blizzard conditions may cause delays to flights into and out of airports in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal on Wednesday and Thursday, Air Canada and WestJet said.

Air Canada had delayed or cancelled more than 100 flights for the day -or about 23 per cent – by Wednesday afternoon. WestJet had pushed back or nixed 91 flights, or nearly a third of its trips, according to FlightAware.

The tracking service said carriers have already cancelled some 2,200 flights in the United States as of early Wednesday afternoon, threatening to snarl trips and connecting flights for Canadians as well.

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Environment Canada warns heavy snow will hit a swath of southern Ontario starting in the late afternoon, followed by ice pellets and freezing rain overnight.

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It forecasts snowfall will total 10 to 15 centimetres with winds gusting at 50 to 70 kilometres per hour as the low-pressure system advances from the American southwest.

“We are monitoring the weather and we have made some schedule adjustments in anticipation of the storm, and this is ongoing as the situation evolves,” Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email, noting that customers will be rebooked or can opt for a refund.

Jazz Aviation, which operates regional flights for Air Canada Express, has cancelled 75 of its Wednesday flights, or 16 per cent, according to FlightAware.

Click to play video: 'Southern Ontario set to see ‘significant’ winter storm'
Southern Ontario set to see ‘significant’ winter storm

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