TORONTO Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for southern Ontario, saying a snowfall today could create poor driving conditions.

The weather agency says an Alberta clipper moving into the region will bring an estimated five to 10 centimeters to Hamilton.

At the same time, the city's Medical Officer of Health has issued a Cold Weather Alert effective Friday morning.

This alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below minus 15 Celsius or minus 20 with wind chill.

Hamiltonians can report the location of a person in need of shelter to the Salvation Army at 905-527-1444 extension 0.

Environment Canada says Thursday is looking cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries late in the morning. Periods of snow beginning early in the afternoon amounting to 2 to 4 cm. Wind southeast 20 km/h becoming southwest 30 early this afternoon. High minus 1.

Tonight, blowing snow overnight with wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low minus 9.

A total of 10 to 15 centimetres of snow is expected to fall from the Grey-Bruce area of southern Ontario, east across Muskoka and into the Ottawa Valley.

Further south, most regions will receive five to 10 centimetres of snow, except for the Windsor and Chatham areas where snowfall amounts will be five centimetres or less due to brief ice pellets or freezing rain mixing in during the morning.

The agency says brisk and gusty northwesterly winds will usher in colder Arctic air beginning this evening, with blowing snow expected in some areas tonight.

Motorists are being warned to expect poor driving conditions since roads may become snow covered and slippery and there could be low visibility due to occasional blowing snow.