After one of the most mild January's on record, winter is reminding people in the London area it is still here.
Friday was forecasted to be snowy and extremely cold with Environment Canada putting London and Middlesex County under a snow squall warning. Just before 9:30 p.m., the warning was called off.
Squalls off of Lake Huron were expected to dump between 10 to 20 centimetres of snow on the region throughout the day and night, according to the national weather agency.
Wind gusts up to 60 km/h will blow that fresh snow around, significantly reducing visibility on the roads at times. Drivers are advised to slow down and prepare for changing weather conditions. School buses in the Medway Zone have been cancelled for the day. The full list of cancellations can be found by clicking here.
The City of London has reassured it has plows and salt trucks out on main routes and bus routes. As well, sidewalk plows are out "spot plowing."
The intensity of the snowfall and strong winds will gradually diminish late Friday night.
Anyone venturing out into the snow is reminded that there is a cold weather alert in effect. The Middlesex London Health Unit issued the region's first alert of the year as a fast-moving arctic cold front that moved across southwestern Ontario Thursday night, ushered in the coldest air of the season so far. The daytime temperature is expected to be steady at -12 C Friday, but combined with windchill values it will feel closer to -23 C outside.
More seasonal temperatures are expected to return Saturday.