Bitter Winds Grip Sioux Lookout and Eastern Lac Seul
Sioux Lookout is waking up to extreme cold as wind chills plunge to a life-threatening -40°C. Current conditions at Sioux Lookout Airport report light snow, a temperature of -28.0°C, and winds from the west-northwest at 17 km/h. With a barometric pressure of 102.4 kPa and rising, visibility stretches to 24 km—though the bitter wind chill makes venturing outside a risky endeavor. Humidity stands at 75%, adding a frosty sting to the already harsh conditions.
Thursday Forecast: Dangerously Cold
Expect a mix of sun and cloud with west winds reaching 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h. The high temperature will hit a frigid -22°C, with wind chills ranging from -41 in the morning to -33 by the afternoon. Frostbite can occur in minutes on exposed skin.
Thursday Night
The skies will turn partly cloudy with winds calming later in the evening. Overnight temperatures will drop to -27°C, and wind chills will hover near -34. Frostbite remains a significant concern.
Weekend Outlook: Gradual Improvement
Friday
Sunny skies bring a slight reprieve, with a high of -17°C. Overnight, clear skies will prevail, and the low will settle at -20°C.
Saturday
Clouds return with a daytime high of -7°C, bringing relative warmth compared to earlier in the week. Nighttime lows will dip to -11°C under partly cloudy skies.
Sunday
Sunday continues the warming trend with cloudy conditions and a high of -2°C. The night brings a 30% chance of flurries and a low of -5°C.
Historic High and Low for December 12
On this date, Sioux Lookout’s warmest recorded temperature was 3.5°C in 1953, while the coldest was -33.9°C in 1989. Today’s wind chills make the record low feel surprisingly approachable!
Wardrobe Recommendations: Bundle Up Like a Polar Explorer
Thick thermal underlayers, an insulated coat, boots, gloves, and a hat are essential to combat today’s frostbite-inducing temperatures. Any exposed skin is at risk, so cover up completely before heading out.
Safety Tips for the Extreme Cold
- Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors.
- Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure for yourself and your pets.
- Keep your car stocked with winter survival gear, including blankets, jumper cables, and a flashlight.
Weather Trivia: Why Does Snow Squeak?
When temperatures drop below -10°C, snow becomes drier and compact. Walking on it compresses the snow grains, creating that iconic squeaky sound. So, if your steps sound like a creaky door, it’s definitely cold.
