A bitter cold is gripping parts of central and eastern Canada today as temperatures dip to –45 C with the wind chill in some areas.

Environment Canada has issued extreme cold warnings for provinces from Manitoba to New Brunswick.

The national weather forecaster says temperatures could fall to –45 C in Ottawa today with the wind chill, warming up to –35 C overnight.

Story continues below advertisement

In New Brunswick, temperatures are expected to hover between –35 C and –40 C with the wind chill until Sunday.

Quebec and Manitoba can expect much of the same, with temperatures warming up early next week.

Meanwhile, Newfoundland is bracing for a winter storm that could bring up to 20 centimetres of snow to eastern parts of the island today.