Severe weather leads to widespread highway closures across northern Ontario
Blowing snow and freezing conditions have lead to several highway closures across northern Ontario Wednesday morning.
As of 7:30 a.m. EST the following sections of highway remain closed:
Highway 17: White River to Heyden
Highway 631: White River to Palmquist
Highway 101: Wawa to Chapleau
A collision on Highway 17 has closed all lanes of traffic at Peninsula Road in Marathon.
Meanwhile, some previously closed sections of highways have reopened:
Highway 11: Nipigon to Kapuskasing
Highway 17: Nipigon to White River
Highway 614: Highway 17 to Manitouwadge
FORECAST: Cold air supports more snow in parts of Ontario, brace for slower travel
Both the Ministry of Transportation and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reporting snow covered conditions and poor visibility.
Environment Canada has issued a yellow advisory for much of northern Ontario due to blowing snow, stretching from Nipigon to the Matagami area in the east. From north to south, the advisory is in effect for Fort Albany and Nakina areas, down to Sault Ste. Marie and Elliot Lake.
The agency is warning of significantly reduced or near-zero visibility in blowing snow. Areas across the north are expecting heavy snow, with local amount ranging between 5 to 10 centimeters.
Snowy conditions are expected to continue through the morning and into the afternoon for some locations.
"Strong northerly wind gusts near 70 km/h could blow falling or freshly fallen snow, significantly reducing or decreasing visibility to near-zero at times. Travel will likely be hazardous due to near-zero visibility," reads the advisory issued by Environment Canada.
OPP are advising people to check Ontario 511 and Environment Canada for updates on the latest conditions.
Highway closures and weather conditions have also lead to a number of school bus cancellations across the region.
Weather conditions have led to school bus cancellations across northern Ontario. (Marc Doucette/CBC)
Bus cancellations in northeastern Ontario
Student transportation is cancelled for the day but schools remain open in Sudbury, Espanola Massey and Manitoulin Districts.
Buses are also cancelled in West Nipissing, and south of North Bay down to Parry Sound.
They are also cancelled from Temagami up to Hearst, including in Timmins.
Algoma and Huron-Superior Transportation Services has cancelled over a dozen bus routes today due to the Highway 17 North closure. As well, Mountain View Public School will be closed for today. Route E026 servicing École séparée Sainte-Anne in Spanish will be cancelled for today.
Bus Cancellations in northwestern Ontario
Several bus routes serving schools in the Superior-Greenstone District School Board (SGDSB) are cancelled this morning. This includes a number of buses heading to Geraldton Composite High School, Ecole St-Joseph, B.A. Parker Public School , Our Lady of Fatima, Ecole Notre-Dame de Fatima , and Marjorie Mills Public School. More information can be found on the SGDSB website.
Algoma and Huron-Superior Transportation Services has cancelled all bus routes today for schools in Wawa, White River, Chapleau, and Hornepayne. Schools will remain open.
WATCH: After 27 snow days last winter, Ontario school board rethinks approach
This article was originally published for CBC News.