Environment Canada warning of snowy commute this afternoon

In this file image, a pedestrian makes their way through the snow in downtown Ottawa. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press)

Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory with periods of heavy snow expected in Ottawa this afternoon.

About 2 to 4 centimetres of snow is forecasted, Environment Canada says.

“Motorists should expect hazardous winter driving conditions and adjust travel plans accordingly. Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays,” the advisory says.

“Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.”

Environment Canada says the snow will move out of the area by early this evening.

The forecast shows periods of snow ending between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

As of 8 a.m. this morning, 3 cm of snow had been recorded at the Ottawa Airport.

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Ottawa weather

Cloudy tonight with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. Low -6 C with the wind chill making it feel like -12.

Cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries Tuesday morning, with a few flurries beginning in the afternoon. Temperature steady near -4 C.

Wednesday will see a mix of sun and cloud. High -4 C.

The outlook for Thursday calls for cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. High -7 C.

Friday will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. High 0 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of -6 C and a low of -16 C.

Rideau Canal Skateway

The green flag continues to fly on a four-kilometre section of the Rideau Canal Skateway.

More ice will be available to skaters on the Rideau Canal Skateway as of Tuesday morning.

Starting at 8 a.m., the green flag will fly on 7.4 kilometres from Laurier to Library, including Dow’s Lake. All that will remain closed will be the 400 metres between Rideau to Laurier.

Crews have been deployed to remove the snow from the Rideau Canal Skateway today.

“The crew are removing it as it falls,” Bruce Devine of the National Capital Commission told CTV Morning Live on Monday.

“They are going to be scraping the ice until the snow stops.”

Devine says crews are finalizing work to open more sections of the skateway this week.

“I’m very confident we’ll open the full length in the weeks to come.”

The National Capital Commission opened the world’s largest skateway between Laurier Avenue and Bank Street on Saturday.