THUNDER BAY – Winter is hanging on for another few days. Environment Canada has issued a Freezing Rain warning for the north shore of Lake Superior, including Nipigon, Marathon, and Schrieber. In addition the forecast is calling for up to ten centimetres of snow for Thunder Bay.

Winter won’t let go!

The weather service reports, “The calendar may read May 1st, but mother nature still has some residual wintery precipitation in store.

A cold front is forecast to slip southwards and become anchored from Eastern Lake Superior to around Timmins tonight. A band of snow and some ice pellets is expected to develop across regions to the north of Lake Superior later tonight.

A band of freezing rain is also likely to spread just north of the front, from near Marathon to White River and northeastward through Hearst. Ice build-up from freezing rain may also be significant in some locales to the northeast of Lake Superior and freezing rain warnings have been issued from Marathon to WhiteRiver and northeastward. Regions east of the freezing rain warnings including Wawa and north of Chapleau are not expected to see freezing rain however if the cold air moves into these areas the freezing rain warnings may need to be adjusted.

Along the western shores of Lake Superior, through Nipigon and northeast through Geraldton snow is expected and possibly mixed with ice pellets. Snow amounts of 2 to 4 cm are likely by Thursday morning with further accumulation expected on Thursday as the snow continues.

A few locales north of Lake Superior may receive up to10 cm of snowfall accumulation by Thursday night.

Freezing Rain Warning

Precipitation along a cold front will begin tonight as wet snow or ice pellets. Then a few periods of freezing rain are expected later this evening into Thursday morning mainly along a band from Marathon to White River and northeastward through Manitouwadge, Hornepayne and Hearst. A few heavier bands of freezing rain are expected to continue sometime Thursday afternoon or evening and into the night.

Ice accretion will be just a thin coating tonight however on Thursday and Thursday evening there could be several millimetres of ice on surfaces. Travel may be impacted through the period beginning late this evening right into Friday morning. There is some uncertainty in the timing of the heaviest freezing rain so this warning will updated regularly.

Motorists are advised to exercise caution as untreated roads may become slippery especially overnight tonight and Thursday.