THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – Northwestern Ontario is experiencing a complex mix of winter weather, with freezing rain warnings and winter weather advisories affecting multiple communities.
If you do not need to be on the highways today, stay home. Overnight there have been a number of highway closures due to the weather conditions. Shabaqua Corners has been especially treacherous this morning. Check with 511ON.ca for the latest conditions.
This report covers current conditions and forecasts for Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Atikokan, Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, Red Lake, Ear Falls, Nipigon, Terrace Bay, and Armstrong. Residents are advised to prepare for hazardous travel conditions as freezing rain, snow, and ice pellets persist through the weekend.
Kenora:
Kenora is currently under a Freezing Rain Warning. Light freezing rain is occurring with a temperature of -5°C, calm winds, and a barometric pressure of 1016 hPa. On December 7, freezing rain will taper off by late morning, transitioning to cloudy skies with flurries. Temperatures will reach a high of -2°C before dropping to -8°C overnight. December 8 brings cloudy skies with occasional light snow, a high of -5°C, and a low of -9°C. December 9 will remain overcast with a high of -7°C. Sunrise is at 7:26 AM, and sunset is at 4:37 PM. Insulated and waterproof footwear is essential to navigate icy surfaces.
Dryden:
Dryden is also under a Freezing Rain Warning. Current conditions include freezing rain, a temperature of -4°C, and winds from the northeast at 15 km/h, creating a wind chill of -10°C. The barometric pressure is 1014 hPa. Freezing rain will end by noon on December 7, with light snow following in the afternoon, accumulating up to 2 cm. A high of -2°C is expected, with a low of -6°C overnight. December 8 will feature cloudy skies with a high of -4°C and a low of -8°C. December 9 will remain cold and cloudy, with a high of -6°C. Sunrise is at 7:30 AM, and sunset is at 4:35 PM.
Fort Frances:
Fort Frances is under a Freezing Rain Warning, and is experiencing mixed precipitation, including light snow and sleet, at -3°C at 5:00 am EST. Winds are light from the east, with a barometric pressure of 1015 hPa. On December 7, freezing rain may occur in the morning before transitioning to light snow by the afternoon, with accumulations of 2–4 cm. A high of 0°C is expected, with a low of -6°C. December 8 will see occasional flurries with a high of -5°C and a low of -9°C. December 9 will remain mostly cloudy, with a high of -6°C. Sunrise is at 7:35 AM, and sunset is at 4:40 PM.
Atikokan:
Atikokan is under a Freezing Rain Warning, and currently cloudy at -7°C, with light winds from the north and a barometric pressure of 1017 hPa. December 7 will bring periods of snow and freezing rain, accumulating up to 1 cm of ice. The high will be -3°C, and the low -8°C. December 8 will feature cloudy skies with scattered flurries, a high of -6°C, and a low of -10°C. December 9 will remain overcast with occasional light snow, with a high of -7°C. Sunrise is at 7:40 AM, and sunset is at 4:45 PM.
Sioux Lookout:
Sioux Lookout is under a Winter Weather Advisory. Current conditions include light snow at -8°C, with winds from the northeast at 10 km/h and a barometric pressure of 1016 hPa. Snow will continue throughout December 7, with total accumulations of 10–15 cm. The high will be -6°C, with a low of -12°C. December 8 will bring light snow in the morning, tapering to cloudy skies by afternoon, with a high of -7°C and a low of -13°C. December 9 will feature cloudy skies with flurries, and a high of -8°C. Sunrise is at 7:45 AM, and sunset is at 4:30 PM.
Pickle Lake:
Pickle Lake is mostly cloudy at -14°C, with calm winds and a barometric pressure of 1018 hPa. December 7 will see steady snowfall accumulating 5–10 cm, with a high of -8°C and a low of -16°C. December 8 will feature intermittent snow flurries, with a high of -9°C and a low of -14°C. December 9 will bring cloudy skies with a high of -10°C. Sunrise is at 8:00 AM, and sunset is at 4:20 PM.
Red Lake and Ear Falls:
Both communities are under Freezing Rain Warnings. Current conditions include light freezing rain and a temperature of -5°C. Winds are light from the northeast, with a barometric pressure of 1015 hPa. December 7 will see freezing rain transitioning to light snow by the afternoon, with total accumulations of up to 2 cm and a high of -3°C. December 8 will feature overcast skies with occasional snow, a high of -5°C, and a low of -8°C. December 9 will bring cloudy conditions with a high of -6°C. Sunrise in Red Lake is at 7:50 AM, and sunset is at 4:20 PM.
Nipigon:
Nipigon is under a Special Weather Advisory, and is currently overcast at -9°C, with northwest winds at 15 km/h and a barometric pressure of 1016 hPa. December 7 will bring light snow and ice pellets, with accumulations of up to 2 cm. The high will be -6°C, with a low of -10°C. December 8 will feature cloudy skies with flurries, a high of -7°C, and a low of -11°C. December 9 will remain overcast with occasional light snow, with a high of -8°C. Sunrise is at 8:00 AM, and sunset is at 4:25 PM.
Terrace Bay:
Terrace Bay is mostly cloudy at -8°C, with northwest winds at 10 km/h and a barometric pressure of 1017 hPa. December 7 will bring light snow mixed with freezing rain, accumulating 2–4 cm. The high will be -4°C, and the low -9°C. December 8 will see cloudy skies with occasional flurries, a high of -6°C, and a low of -11°C. December 9 will remain cold and cloudy, with a high of -7°C. Sunrise is at 8:10 AM, and sunset is at 4:30 PM.
Armstrong:
Armstrong is overcast at -11°C, with calm winds and a barometric pressure of 1020 hPa. December 7 will bring steady snowfall, accumulating 2–5 cm, with a high of -9°C and a low of -13°C. December 8 will feature overcast skies with flurries, a high of -10°C, and a low of -15°C. December 9 will remain cloudy with occasional light snow, with a high of -10°C. Sunrise is at 8:15 AM, and sunset is at 4:25 PM.
Wardrobe Suggestions
Residents should wear insulated winter clothing, including waterproof boots, thermal layers, and windproof outerwear. For areas under freezing rain warnings, non-slip footwear is recommended to navigate icy surfaces safely.
Weather Trivia
- Sioux Lookout: The region often experiences its heaviest early winter snowfalls in December due to moisture from nearby lakes.
- Kenora: Freezing rain events are common during transitional periods, often leading to treacherous road conditions.
