A winter storm blasting many parts of eastern Ontario and parts of Quebec has led to more than 350 crashes, according to the Ontario Provincial Police, primarily due to drivers sliding off roads.

Meteorologists project Friday's storm will dump about 30 centimetres of snow on the Capital.

The OPP's Ottawa detachment says cops are anticipating an increase in collisions and are warning drivers to slow down. So far, no serious injuries or road closures have been reported.

The storm took a tragic turn, however, after Ottawa police confirmed that a man died in Orleans as he was shovelling his driveway. A passing motorist found the 64 year old unconscious. Paramedics were unable to revive him.

Ottawa snow plows ready to go

Dan O'Keefe, surface operations manager with the City of Ottawa, says after dealing with over 120 centimetres of snow in December, his team is ready to tackle the first storm of February.

"We got a crash course in December in snow and it slowed down a bit in January, but it looks like February is picking up again, so we're ready," O'Keefe told CTV News, adding the snowfall will cost the City millions of dollars.

"Up to 30 centimetres could run $3 to $4 million for the initial operation and then snow removal would be on top of that," he said.

O'Keefe says residents can do their part by following the parking ban that's in place on many city streets.

"If you get your cars off the streets it will really help us plow the streets later today and tonight," he said.

Travel plans disrupted

The snow is causing more than just headaches for motorists. It's also put a rift in plans for travellers trying to fly into and out of Ontario's airports.

Dozens of flights at Ottawa's International Airport have been delayed or cancelled and more than 200 flights were delayed or cancelled at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

For Dan Creighton from Carleton Place, waiting for a flight to Mexico was okay by him.

"I'd be out in the snow delivering mail. This is where I want to be. The next stop is where I want to be more," he told CTV.

Via Rail added extra trains to accommodate stranded travellers but most of those running between Windsor and Ottawa or Quebec City were sold out by late morning.

With a report from CTV's John Hua and files from The Canadian Press