Brace for a Snowy Weekend as Winter Flexes Its Muscles

A Snowfall Warning is in effect for Thunder Bay, with 15-25 cm of snow expected. Travel will be tricky, and frostbite is a risk. Stay safe and stay warm!

Thunder Bay residents, get ready—Mother Nature is about to dump a hefty load of snow on us! A Snowfall Warning is in effect for the region, with 15 to 25 cm of snow expected by the time the system passes through on Sunday evening. Locally higher amounts may be seen over higher terrain, particularly along the northern shores of Lake Superior.

With reduced visibility and accumulating snow making travel tricky, it’s best to take it slow and steady if you’re heading out.

Current Conditions (7:00 AM EST, Feb 1, 2025)

At the Thunder Bay Airport, the temperature is a frigid -25°C, with a southwest wind at 6 km/h making it feel like a bone-chilling -31°C. The humidity is at 75%, and the barometric pressure is at 103.4 kPa and rising. Despite the deep freeze, visibility remains excellent at 24 km—for now.

Today’s Forecast: Snow Moving In

The day starts with increasing cloudiness, and by late afternoon, heavy snow will begin, with 2 cm expected before nightfall. Winds will remain light, up to 15 km/h, but it won’t do much to improve conditions as wind chills remain at -32°C this morning and -13°C in the afternoon.

If you’re stepping outside, bundle up in layers, wear gloves, and cover exposed skin—frostbite is a real risk today!

Tonight: The Main Event – Heavy Snow

As the evening progresses, snow at times heavy will persist through the night, dumping 10 to 15 cm by morning. Winds from the southeast at 20 km/h will lighten up overnight, but temperatures will be on the rise, reaching -6°C by dawn.

The wind chill will hover near -13°C, making it feel brisk but not as extreme as this morning.

Sunday, February 2: Snow and Freezing Drizzle

The wintry mix continues into Sunday with periods of snow, potentially mixed with freezing drizzle. Another 2 cm of snow is expected before things taper off. The wind will shift to the west, picking up to 30 km/h and gusting to 50 km/h in the afternoon. However, the silver lining is that temperatures will rise to 0°C, marking a significant warm-up. Wind chills in the morning will still be -10°C, but things should feel more bearable as the day progresses.

Sunday night will bring cloudy periods with a 60% chance of flurries, and temperatures will plunge again to -16°C.

Monday, February 3: A Break in the Action

Monday offers a slight reprieve from the snowstorm, with a mix of sun and clouds and only a 30% chance of flurries. Temperatures will hover at -11°C, still cold, but much better than today. Monday night will see cloudy periods with another 30% chance of flurries, and temperatures dropping back to a deep freeze at -22°C.

Winter Wardrobe Advisory

For today, full winter gear is a must—heavy coats, insulated gloves, hats, scarves, and proper winter boots. With wind chills plummeting to -32°C this morning, frostbite can occur within minutes, so avoid exposing skin. If you’re out shoveling later tonight, pace yourself and stay warm—this is a heavy, prolonged snowfall event.

Fun Fact: Thunder Bay’s Snowfall Records

Did you know that Thunder Bay’s snowiest February on record was in 1939, when a whopping 107.2 cm of snow fell throughout the month? While this storm won’t quite reach that level, it’s still one of the more intense systems we’ve seen this winter!

Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the snow—preferably from indoors with a hot drink in hand!