Extreme cold warning issued as London digs out after big snowfall

Like many Londoners, Len Forster is spending his Tuesday morning digging out.

About 15 centimetres of snow fell in London and surrounding areas in the past 24 hours, according to Environment Canada.

Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services cancelled all school buses in the Elgin, Oxford, and Middlesexcounties.

EnvironmentCanada issued an extreme coldwarning Tuesday morning for the following areas:

• London -Parkhill- EasternMiddlesexCounty
• Strathroy-Komoka- WesternMiddlesexCounty

The weather agency says aprolonged period of very cold wind chills is expected withArctic air settling in over tonight. Temperatures could drop overnight to -35 Celsius with windchills.

Conditions are expected toimprove Friday as milder air moves into the region.

Multiple accidents were reported across the region in the past 24 hours, including on the 400 series highways.

OPP were forced to shut down the east-bound lanes of the 401 outside of London, near Veteran's Memorial Parkway Tuesday morning during the commute.

Mid-morning, police shutdown the 402 east-bound at Hickory Drive, near Strathroyfollowing another crash.

In the city, London police Const.Brad Yeo told CBC's London Morning officers responded to 27 collisions overnight.

"It makes sense! If there's snow, go slow," Yeo said. "Unfortunately, not all motorists drive according to the weather conditions."

The big dig begins

Some residential streets are still being worked on by city crews and drifting snow has made some sidewalks impassible.

"Crews have been out since yesterday afternoon and working on the roads and sidewalks all night," said John Parsons, the city's manager of transportation.

"It's going to be bad today because of blowing snow. We'll be chasing the same snowflakewith the drifting."

The main roads were sanded and plowed overnight, with residential streets done during the night. A ban on overnight parking within the city helped crews clear streets, Parsons told CBC's London Morning.

There are some smaller streets that will have to wait as city crews work as fast as they can, Parsons said.

"There are certainly a number of streets that are not plowed yet. The vehicles are making their way out of thereand that's a challenge, but when they get to the main roads they'll see bare pavement," Parsons said.

About 90 per cent of the city will be plowed by this afternoon and crews will move on to small cul de sacs, he added.

He urged drivers to keep their cars off the roads so crews can do their job.