A Blustery Start to the Week with Frostbite Risks
Thunder Bay braces for bitter cold with wind chills near -30°C. Strong winds and frostbite risks continue into Tuesday. Slightly warmer with flurries midweek
Thunder Bay is off to a frigid start this Monday morning, with mostly cloudy skies and a temperature of -13.8°C as of 5:00 AM. While it’s already cold, the west wind at 14 km/h is making it feel much worse, with a wind chill of -21°C. The humidity sits at 67%, and visibility is a solid 24 km, but don’t let that fool you—this is not a day to be outside for long without bundling up. The barometric pressure is at 101.6 kPa and rising, meaning we’re in for a stretch of stable but very cold weather.
The day will bring a mix of sun and clouds, but the wind will quickly ramp up, shifting northwest at 30 km/h with gusts up to 50 km/h this morning. The high will reach -9°C, but the wind chill will make it feel like a bitter -22°C this morning and -17°C this afternoon. Frostbite is a real concern today, especially in the morning when exposed skin could freeze in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. The UV index remains low at 1.
Tonight: Even Colder with Dangerous Wind Chills
Partly cloudy skies continue into the evening, but the real story is the wind. Gusts up to 50 km/h from the northwest will persist, and temperatures will drop to a bone-chilling -21°C. Wind chills will make it feel like -20°C in the evening and an unforgiving -28°C overnight. If you’re heading out, make sure all exposed skin is covered—frostbite can set in very quickly in these conditions.
Tuesday: Bright but Brutally Cold
Tuesday will bring plenty of sunshine, but don’t expect it to bring warmth. Winds will ease slightly, becoming northwest at 20 km/h in the morning. The high will be just -12°C, but wind chills will make it feel like -30°C in the morning and -20°C in the afternoon. Once again, frostbite is a major risk. The UV index stays low at 1.
Tuesday night will bring some cloudy periods, with a low of -17°C.
Wednesday: A Slight Warm-Up with Flurries on the Way
By midweek, clouds return, along with a 60% chance of flurries. The high will rise slightly to -7°C. Wednesday night looks similar, with another 60% chance of snow and a low of -12°C. While still cold, this will feel much better compared to the bitter start of the week.
What to Wear?
This is “layer-up-or-stay-inside” weather. A heavy winter coat, thermal base layers, thick mittens, a warm hat, and a scarf are all must-haves. Wind chills below -30°C mean frostbite can develop in less than 10 minutes, so make sure every inch of skin is covered. If you’re heading outside, insulated boots are essential to keep your feet from freezing.
Thunder Bay Weather Trivia
Did you know? The coldest February 3rd ever recorded in Thunder Bay was a shocking -41.1°C in 1996! So while today’s temperatures feel extreme, history reminds us that it can get much worse. The warmest February 3rd on record? A relatively mild 4.2°C in 1991.
