Lake Effect Snow up to 15 CM Possible

THUNDER BAY – Snow is the story for Thunder Bay and much of Northwestern Ontario. Environment Canada says “A low pressure system currently located over Colorado may reach Iowa by Wednesday morning then track northeast towards the Great Lakes by Wednesday evening. For areas from near Thunder Bay to the Minnesota border, snow amounts of 2 to 5 cm are expected tonight except local 10 to 15 cm over areas that receive a lake effect snow band or two off of Lake Superior.

A snowfall warning has been issued for them.

Based on the latest assessment, a significant snow accumulation is expected on Wednesday and through into Wednesday night over regions from west and north of Lake Superior extending northeast towards the Kapuskasing area. The total snow fall amounts of 15 to 25 cm are quite possible and the snowfall warning may need to be extended northeast as the system gets closer. Snow accumulation will drop gradually farther west and north. In addition, strong and gusty winds will develop Wednesday afternoon and local blowing snow is also possible.

Over northeastern Ontario south of a line from Searchmont to North Bay, when the warm front associated with the low approaches, precipitation will start as snow mixed with ice pellets then change to freezing rain by midday Wednesday before changing to rain. A freezing rain warning has been issued for those regions.

The area of snow and freezing rain is expected to reach the Chapleau and Kirkland Lake regions in Wednesday evening.

However, there is much uncertainty in the track and development of this system. If the system tracks further north, significant snow accumulation will also spread farther north.