A snow squall watch has been issued by Environment Canada.

A sharp Arctic cold front blasting east across Northern Ontario has flurries associated with it as it moves through, said Environment Canada. There is the potential for a strong, but brief snow squall to develop near the front as it moves through.

The front will move across Northeastern Ontario this afternoon, reaching the Nickel Belt and Nipissing regions this evening.

The snow squall is expected to dump two to four cm of snow in an hour or less as it moves through, along with sudden very low visibilities of a couple hundred metres or less. Blowing snow from strong and gusty winds in the snow squall may also result in sudden very low to almost nil visibility, said Environment Canada.

Temperatures are expected to plunge quite dramatically from a few degrees below the zero degree mark to minus 20 or below in many areas by tonight. In Sudbury, the temperature is forecast to hit -25 C, with a windchill of -32 C.

It won't be any warmer on Jan. 17, either. The high for tomorrow is expected to be -17 C, but at its coldest, it will feel more like -34 C with the windchill.

As a result, the Homelessness Network of Sudbury has issued an extreme cold weather alert for the next 24 hours.

The alert will put into action a short-term emergency plan to increase community services when temperatures drop below -15 C or when Environment Canada issues a storm watch or weather warning.
It now also takes into account a daily low of -20 C with a wind chill.

Under a community partnership agreement, agencies will implement or extend the following community services:

Hot Line: 705-675-6422: L’Association des jeunes de la rue will operate an overnight phone line to direct callers to appropriate services and to take calls from concerned citizens.

Shelters: Foyer Notre Dame and the Salvation Army Centre will increase their shelter capacity where possible and exercise leniency in curfews.

Emergency Warming Centre: The Elgin Street Mission will become an emergency warming centre. In addition to the regular services it provides, it will remain open 24 hours during an extreme cold weather alert. As part of its emergency response, they will also provide a hot meal at night.

Outreach: L’Association des jeunes de la rue (Community Outreach Program) will provide overnight services to make contact with people on the street and to transport individuals to shelters. Outreach workers will be equipped with extra clothing, blankets and coffee for those who choose not to access shelters.