Snow squall watch issued for London region

Digging out after heavy snow in London, Ont. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Marek Sutherland / CTV London)

A snow squall watch has been issued by Environment Canada for much of the area, including Huron and Bruce Counties, Sarnia-Lambton, and London-Middlesex. A weather advisory has also been issued for western Elgin County.

Locally heavy snowfall with accumulations near 10 cm is possible, especially near Lake Huron.

The snow squall is expected to hit overnight Friday and last into Saturday, worsening travel conditions.

CTV London Meteorologist Julie Atchison warns it’s going to get very cold this weekend, “It'll be those overnight lows that are extremely biting, minus 9 to minus 15 with wind chills approaching that minus 19 to minus 20 mark.”

“But by Christmas Day, we could see the forecast high hit 3 degrees,” she added.

Here’s a look at the London, Ont. region’s forecast

Thursday night: Cloudy. Periods of light snow beginning late this evening. Amount 2 cm. Wind becoming east 20 km/h before morning. Temperature steady near minus 3. Wind chill minus 3 this evening and minus 9 overnight.

Friday: Periods of light snow ending late in the morning then cloudy. Wind northeast 20 km/h becoming light late in the afternoon. High zero. Wind chill minus 9 in the morning.

Saturday: Flurries. High minus 6.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. High minus 5.

Monday: Cloudy. High minus 2.

Tuesday (Christmas Eve): Cloudy with 40 per cent chance of flurries or rain showers. High plus 2.