The first major snowstorm of the winter season blanketed Canada's capital on Wednesday, dropping a whopping 24 centimeters (0.79 ft) of the white stuff in 12 hours overnight.

The weather slowed up journeys for Ottawa commuters, school buses were cancelled and delays were reported at airports throughout Eastern Canada.

The capital region meanwhile braced for more wet, heavy snow, with temperatures hovering just below freezing.

Authorities have also warned of possible widespread power outages in Quebec province and the Atlantic Maritime region as the snowfall, turning to freezing rain, moves eastward.