Cloudy Skies and Breezy Conditions Tonight
Dryden and Vermilion Bay are in for a classic wintry night, with cloudy skies, a rising wind, and flurries poised to make an appearance. At 10:11 PM CST, the temperature at Dryden Airport is sitting at -4°C, but don’t let that fool you—westerly winds at 22 km/h are delivering a wind chill that makes it feel like -10°C.
Dryden weather: Flurries tonight with a low of -6°C. Gusty winds Thursday, snow Friday, and extreme cold this weekend with lows plunging to -33°C Saturday night.
Humidity is high at 92%, and visibility has dropped to 16 km, a sign of increasing moisture in the air. The barometric pressure is steady at 100.3 kPa, but snow is on the horizon.
Overnight, flurries will begin in earnest, accompanied by a risk of freezing drizzle. As the northwest winds strengthen to 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, local blowing snow is likely, so watch for reduced visibility if you’re on the roads. Temperatures will rise slightly to -3°C before falling back by early morning, with a wind chill that will hover around a frosty -14°C.
Thursday, January 16: Flurries and Gusty Winds
Thursday will dawn cloudy, with a 40% chance of flurries lingering through the morning. The gusty northwest winds will persist at 30 km/h, with gusts up to 50 km/h before easing by mid-morning. While the temperature will remain steady near -6°C, the wind chill will be unforgiving, starting the day at -14°C before “warming” to -9°C in the afternoon.
In the evening, conditions will shift again as snow begins to fall, with 2 to 4 cm of accumulation expected overnight. South winds will ramp up to 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, and temperatures will rise to -3°C by Friday morning. However, the wind chill will still make it feel like a brisk -13°C, so don’t pack away those scarves just yet.
Friday, January 17: Snow and a Deep Freeze
Friday will feature periods of snow throughout the day, but temperatures will nudge upward to a high of -2°C. That minor reprieve will be short-lived, as the night will usher in a dramatic drop to a frigid -25°C. The cold will settle in as clouds break up, setting the stage for one of the coldest weekends of the season.
Saturday, January 18: Arctic Sunshine and Bitter Cold
Saturday will dawn bright and sunny, but the temperature will barely budge. The high for the day will be a bone-chilling -23°C. Once the sun sets, prepare for even more extreme conditions, with overnight lows plunging to an arctic -33°C. These are frostbite-in-minutes conditions, so take every precaution if you need to step outdoors.
Historic Highs and Lows
For January 15, the record high for Dryden is a mild 6.0°C, recorded in 1981—hard to imagine given the current chilly conditions. The record low for this date is a jaw-dropping -42.5°C, set back in 1972. While this weekend’s lows of -33°C won’t break that record, it’s still going to feel like the North Pole around here.
What to Wear
It’s time to break out your winter survival gear! Tonight’s wind chill of -14°C calls for a warm winter coat, toque, gloves, and a scarf to protect against the biting winds. Thursday’s gusts will make windproof outerwear a necessity, and if you’re venturing out Friday night or Saturday morning, thermal layers, thick boots, and face protection are essential to guard against frostbite in the extreme cold.
Fun Weather Trivia
Did you know Dryden is home to the Wabigoon River, which often freezes over during the winter? Many locals use it for winter sports like ice fishing and skating. Just don’t forget to check the ice thickness before venturing out—it’s always better to stay safe while enjoying winter’s beauty!