Canadian Blood Services said it needs blood and plasma donors after a winter storm disrupted donations during the holidays.

Strong winds and snowfall that hit many parts of the country resulted in about 10 percent of the expected blood and plasma donations not taking place.

There is an urgent need for platelets for patients undergoing cancer treatments, O-negative blood for newborns, and emergencies.

Canadian Blood Services also said it has lost thousands of regular donors since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Also, since October, the national blood supply has dropped by more than 35 percent, and as the new year approaches, more people are expected to need blood.

As winter progresses, the organization said the situation could worsen, as donors are unable to reach their appointments due to bad weather.