Winter storms hammer Eastern Canada as rain and flooding hits B.C.'s north coast

Canada's common cold cranch is continuing into tues after a overwinter force slammed Ontario and Quebec, wreaking havoc on the roads and leaving tens of thousands without power.

Millions remain under yellow and orange weather warnings from Environment Canada as storms sweep through multiple provinces, stretching from eastern Ontario to the Atlantic region.

Snow squalls, blowing snow and cold temperatures following yesterday's freezing rain could further complicate travel.

In Ontario and Quebec, storm fronts brought freezing rain, blowing snow and strong winds, leaving tens of thousands without power at one point.

The federal weather agency says some areas northeast of Quebec City and into northern New Brunswick could see between 15 and 40 centimetres of snow, along with high winds.

Much of Canada has been blasted with a number of weather systems over the last week, ranging from blizzards and cold snaps to freezing rain.

Click on this interactive map on the red, orange and yellow areas to get more information on the weather alerts across Canada:

In B.C., some residents were left stranded after heavy rainfall washed out a section of Highway 16 in Haida Gwaii, connecting the north and south parts of the island.

Meanwhile, a strengthening bomb cyclone is barrelling its way across the northern United States, unleashing severe winter weather in the Midwest and aiming at the East Coast.

In London and the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay regions, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is warning of continuing blizzard conditions with "dangerous snow squalls," advising residents to beware of prolonged disruptions to transportation, services and utilities.

"Dangerous snow squalls and significant blowing snow continue," the agency said, noting snow could continue falling until Thursday and, in some places, reach 50 centimetres of accumulation. "Near-zero visibility remains the primary concern due to northwesterly winds gusting 50 to 70 km/h."

Those winds are expected to ease by Tuesday evening, the warning said.

A large swath of northern Ontario, stretching east and covering northern parts of Quebec as well, is under yellow warning for "difficult winter conditions," which include about 10 more centimetres of snow, strong winds and reduced visibility.

An orange warning persists for northern Nova Scotia, along the northeast coast of Cape Breton Island, due to a les suêtes wind from Margaree Harbour to Bay St. Lawrence. The southeasterly winds of up to 140 km/h could cause damage and flip high-sided vehicles, ECCC warned. A similar warning was also issued on Monday.

Messy winter weather continues to hammer parts of Eastern Canada

Much of the Atlantic region is under yellow warnings for freezing rain that could in some places lead to flooding, the agency said.

Meanwhile, Air Canada cautioned on its website that flights to and from Montreal, Ottawa and both Toronto airports could still be affected Tuesday, as the airline recovers from a weather-related backlog.

It comes after a number of flights were cancelled or delayed in Montreal, Toronto, London, Ont., Halifax and St. John's on Monday.

Southern Quebec is no longer under weather warnings, but is seeing colder temperatures after freezing rain coated streets and sidewalks in Montreal, prompting 100 911 calls an hour on Monday morning, an ambulance service reported. Despite a thaw later in the day, ice could return in some parts of the city and province as the temperature hits –13 C (feeling like –24 C), according to ECCC.

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