Brace yourself: Winter is coming (finally)

Environment Canada says snow and very cold temperatures are on the way for southwestern Ontario.

Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton are all under a special weather statement, but there have been no snowfall or winter storm warnings issued.

"The winter storm warning at this point is confined to the area near Hamilton and Niagara," said Peter Kimbell, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

According to the weather service, the area is on the "northern fringe" of a major winter storm that will come south of the Great Lakes this weekend.

"It will head down to minus 20 on Sunday night," said Kimbell. "It's not a great weekend, particularly Saturday night."

Snow should begin tonight and continue through Saturday evening, with 10 to 15 centimetres of snow falling nearLake Erie. Areas near Lake Huron may also see snow squalls and additional snowfall on Sunday.

"It's a big change, winter for real," said Kimbell. "It's not going to be the worst storm in the world, but it is going to be getting windy and cause blowing snow."

Winds of 30 km/h will gust up to 50 km/h, making what will be already difficult travel conditions worse. Wind chill values around -30 C are possible for Sunday night.

"People won't be used to this. It's going to be a shock," said Kimbell. "Motorists definitely need to take precautions."

Kimbell said it might get up to positive temperatures by nextTuesday, but not warm enough that the snow would melt.

Gale warning for western Lake Erie

Environment Canada has added a gale warning to the special weather statement already in effect.

Strong winds more than 35 km/h are expected all day Saturday. Waves on Lake Erie could reach two to three metres in height.

"Since tomorrow's winds are expected to be out of the northeast, they will mostly be pushing waves along the shoreline rather than attacking it directly," said the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority in a release.

The conservation authority says there is a risk of erosion, damage to shoreline protection and flooding.

"Given the uncertainty around wind and wave forecasts, residents along the Lake Erie shoreline should pay close attention to both weather forecasts and current conditions."