The latest winter storm is expected to hit eastern Ontario and Outaouais Friday night. It is expected to drop light snow Friday and heavy snow on Saturday.

Environment Canada says the storm is expected to drop 30 to 50 centimetres of white stuff on the region.

CTV's weather specialist J.J. Clarke says the worst is expected to hit Ottawa Saturday afternoon and into the night.

Gusts of winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour are also expected.

Travel disruptions expected

With March break ending in Quebec and starting in Ontario, the storm is expected to put a wrench in many people's travel plans.

Airport officials are anticipating delays and cancellations this weekend and are warning travellers to check with carriers before heading to the airport.

Krista Kealey of Ottawa Airport Authority told CTV News this is one of the airport's busiest weekends.

"It's the end of the Quebec break so we'll have a lot of return passengers and also a lot of people trying to get the heck out of here before the snow hits," Kealey told CTV News.

She says delays and cancellations will be caused by weather conditions both in Ottawa and other areas.

"There's no question that when weather hits other centres that have connections to Ottawa it definitely impacts us here," said Kealey. "If an aircraft can't get here to then take passengers on to the next spot it really does create a bit of chaos in the system."

But even once the storm stops, travellers won't be guaranteed hassle-free trips.

"It takes a bit of time for things to settle back in place in terms of routing and our carriers and whatnot," said Kealey. "So, it can be a challenge."

Ottawa prepares for the blast

City staff says 500 pieces of equipment and 600 workers will tackle the snow through the weekend.

Deputy city manager Richard Hewitt says all city resources will be used to manage the storm and main roads will be given priority for snow clearing.

City officials are warning residents to avoid parking on streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. Saturday. Those who leave their vehicles on the streets could risk being ticketed or towed.

Street parking permit holders are exempt, unless there's a temporary no parking sign on the street they park on.

Hewitt says the city is now back to "standard operations" after it was forced to implement emergency towing Thursday night.

He says emergency towing was put in place in order to make room for the coming snowfall.

Any questions regarding towed cars and snow removal operations should be directed to the city's non-emergency 311 hotline.

Second snowiest winter on record

With 358 centimetres of snow this winter, Ottawa has experienced the second snowiest season in recorded history.

Clarke says Ottawa needs to get 90 more centimetres of snow to break the record set during the 1970-1971 winter season.

With a report from CTV's Chris Day

Check out CTV's winter storm photo gallery and our special snow fact file.

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