Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning in western Quebec and a snowfall advisory stretching from eastern Ontario through to the southern parts of the province.
It advised that travel may be difficult due to reduced visibility, heavy snow and changing conditions.
More than 15 centimetres of snow is expected to fall thorughout the day in communities north of Gatineau, including Chelsea, Maniwaki and Grenville.
Eastern Ontario could receive between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow, Environment Canada said.
The advisory encompasses all of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Cornwall and Kingston.
Environment Canada issues warnings in Ontario and most of Quebec when 15 centimetres of snow are expected to fall within a 12-hour period.
Given the possibility of poor visibility, people are advised to plan for the weather and adjust their driving, including having a charged phone on hand, packing an emergency kit and informing others when you expect to reach your destination.
People can check the Ministry of Transportation’s website for road conditions and closures.
In Ottawa, the expected high on Saturday and Sunday is –5 C, feeling like –10 C with the windchill. Near Gatineau and Chelsea, the forecasted high is –7 C (–12 C with the windchill) on Saturday and –12 C on Sunday.
Parts of the broader Ottawa-Gatineau area have been warmer and drier than normal in recent weeks, which contributed to the cancellation of an international ski event at Mont-Tremblant this weekend.