Heavy snow, poor travel conditions and power outages are expected in the Barrie area starting Friday evening and continuing at least through the weekend, Environment Canada says. Weather warnings have also been issued for other parts of central Ontario.

Lake effect snow squalls are expected to impact parts of Ontario throughout the weekend with peak snowfall rates of 2 to 4 in per hour, according to Environment Canada.

Regions around cottage country and north of Toronto are expected to be hit the hardest. There are currently no weather warnings for Toronto.

Environment Canada is warning of snow squalls in parts of Ontario north of the Greater Toronto Area this weekend, with more than 75 centimetres of snow accumulation possible in some areas.

Oh, the weather outside is expected to be frightful in central Ontario. Environment Canada has called for snow squall warnings and watches across a great swath of our region. The national weather agency is calling for local accumulations to exceed 50 centimetres by the end of the weekend.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a snow squall warning for Orangeville, as snowy weather is expected to hit north of the area beginning today. The weather warning for a wide swath of Ontario, including north of Orangeville, says lake effect snow could impact local residents throughout the weekend and into next week.

The first major snow squall event of the season is shaping up across Ontario's snowbelt regions, and while this will be amazing news for ski areas ahead of the holidays, drivers will be tested with da