Snowfall warnings issued for Napanee, Picton areas

Environment Canada has issued a yellow warning for the Napanee and Picton areas as snow and heavy winds are expected to begin battering the region.

Both areas could be hit with up to 10 centimetres of snow on Boxing Day afternoon, the weather agency said, with wind gusts as high as 50 km/h.

Another two to four centimetres could fall Friday evening before tapering off after midnight.

The overnight lows for both communities hover around -11 C, but with the wind it could feel closer to -20.

Nearby Kingston is not under a warning, but Environment Canada says up to seven centimetres of snow could fall by morning, with wind gusts up to 40 km/h.

Environment Canada recently switched to a new colour-coded weather alert system, one that better aligns with recommendations from the World Meteorological Association.

The agency has eliminated inclement weather watches, and now issues weather warnings in three colours: yellow, orange and red.

As for Ottawa, Environment Canada says up to four centimetres of snow could fall by Saturday morning.

Tonight's low in the nation's capital is -14 C, with the wind making it feel more like -23.