A Metro Transit ferry crosses the harbour through sea smoke, formed when very cold air moves over warm water, in Halifax on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014. The region is in the grip of unseasonably cold temperatures and the forecast is for blizzard conditions.Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press
Canadians from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland are in the midst of a deep freeze, but Nova Scotians are bracing for the worst as they face a nasty blizzard as well.
Moncton has set a new record-low temperature for January 2 — -28C without the wind chill. Elsewhere, forecast lows without the windchill for Thursday were -24C for Saskatoon; -32C for Winnipeg; -38C for Thunder Bay; -20C for Toronto; -27C for Montreal; -22C for Halifax and -17C for St. John's.
Calgary, meanwhile, has a forecast high of 8C, and Vancouver is expecting 7C and rain.
But in Nova Scotia, Environment Canada says blowing snow is expected to begin later Thursday. The storm will intensify overnight and spread eastward over the province Friday, dumping between 15 and 30 centimetres of snow in most areas.
Forecasters say southwestern Nova Scotia and areas along the Atlantic coast will be hit the hardest.
No blizzard warnings are in effect for New Brunswick, but Environment Canada says the Fundy coast can expect upwards of 15 centimetres of snow and winds gusting up to 60 kilometres an hour.
New Brunswickers and Ontario residents were still recovering from last week's ice storm, with the last electricity customers expected to have their power restored today.