Dreaming of a snowy Christmas?

THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – Dreaming of a snowy Christmas? For Thunder Bay that is likely. The Weather Network is offering up their forecast for that traditional white Christmas.

T’was the week before Christmas and the holidays crept up fast, Canadians were wondering, “will the snow even last?” The stockings were hung by the chimney with care and The Weather Network’s meteorologists had some holiday cheer to share. The Ho! Ho! Snow Report predicts where the snow will fall and which regions will have the merriest Christmas of all.

In contrast to this time last year, most of Canada is currently blanketed with snow, but with a milder weather pattern spreading across the country, some wonder if their chances of a white Christmas (snow cover of two centimeters or more on Christmas morning) are dwindling. The Weather Network’s meteorologists have been keeping a close eye on storm systems across the country and the Ho! Ho! Snow Report indicates that not every region will be on Mother Nature’s nice list.

“Almost every part of the country has seen snow and a period of below normal temperatures over the past couple weeks,” said Chris Scott, Chief Meteorologist with The Weather Network.  “This is a striking contrast to the past couple Decembers, which were relatively mild across the country with many areas showing bare ground leading up to Christmas.”

With the potential for active weather over the holidays, holiday travelers should plan ahead before dashing through the snow to stay safe and avoid potential travel disruptions this holiday season. The Weather Network recently launched the Severe Weather Outlook tool to notify Canadians, and Santa, about impactful weather conditions such as snow and freezing rain. Precip Start Stop is another helpful tool to know how the weather will change in the next few hours, along with The Weather Network app and its “Follow Me” feature, which provides location-specific weather information and helps users remain up-to-date on current conditions.

In the event of a winter storm or icy conditions, below are a few tips that can help keep Canadians safe and jolly on and off the road:

• Keep exposure to cold at a minimum, especially areas of the body such as hands, feet and ears to avoid frostbite
• Keep emergency items in your vehicle such as an ice scraper, snow brush, first aid kit and booster cables
• Have your tires checked for proper alignment, pressure and tread depth. Winter tires are especially beneficial in temperatures of 7°C or below, as they handle icy and snowy conditions more effectively than all-season tires
• Make sure your wiper blades are in working order, and consider replacing them with winter-specific blades, which are heavier and more effective at shifting snow

Will Santa bring snow?
On Thursday, December 22 and Friday, December 23, The Weather Network’s meteorologists are available to let you know exactly what weather conditions are in store for your region leading up to Christmas and over the holidays. You can also get an idea of which major cities across Canada can expect a white Christmas below: