Frigid Temperatures Take Hold – Feels Like an Extreme Cold Warning
Thunder Bay wakes up to an icy -30°C with wind chills of -34. No extreme cold warning, but it sure feels like there should be! Stay bundled up today!
Thunder Bay residents are waking up to a bitterly cold morning, with temperatures plunging to -30°C at the Thunder Bay Airport. While there is no official extreme cold warning in place, let’s pretend there is—because with a wind chill of -34°C, it certainly feels like one! The air is crisp and clear, with visibility at 24 km, but stepping outside without the right gear could be a risky move. The barometric pressure sits at 103.1 kPa but is falling, meaning changes may be on the horizon. Humidity is at 73%, adding to the frosty feel, while a light westerly wind at 4 km/h is making conditions even icier.
Today’s Forecast: A Little Sun, A Lot of Cold
If you’re hoping for warmth, you’ll have to find it indoors. The day will bring a mix of sun and clouds, with a 30% chance of early morning flurries before clearing up. Winds will pick up slightly to 15 km/h, keeping the high at a bone-chilling -14°C. The morning wind chill of -34°C will ease slightly to -17°C by the afternoon, but don’t be fooled—exposed skin can freeze in minutes. The UV index is sitting at a low 1, so sunburn isn’t the issue today—frostbite is.
Tonight: A Clear and Bitterly Cold Night Ahead
Clear skies will persist into the evening, but don’t expect that to bring any warmth. Winds will remain light at up to 15 km/h, but temperatures will plummet to -29°C overnight. Wind chills will make it feel like -20°C in the evening, dropping even further to a punishing -33°C by morning. Once again, the risk of frostbite is high, so layer up and limit time outdoors.
Midweek Outlook: No Thaw in Sight
Wednesday, February 12, will continue the frozen trend, with a mix of sun and clouds and a high of -12°C. The morning wind chill will start at -34°C before slightly improving to -15°C in the afternoon, but overall, another day of frigid conditions awaits. Overnight, expect increasing cloud cover with a 30% chance of flurries and a low of -21°C.
Thursday, February 13, won’t bring much relief, with a mix of sun and clouds and a 30% chance of flurries. The high will reach -13°C, and the overnight low will dip to -24°C.
By Friday, February 14, clouds will take over the sky, keeping the high at -10°C. Light flurries may return overnight, with a low near -20°C.
What to Wear: Arctic Expedition Mode
Today is a triple-layer kind of day—thermal base layers, a heavy insulated winter coat, thick mittens, a toque, and insulated boots are absolute necessities. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in minutes, so keep that face covered. If you have to be outside for long periods, take frequent warm-up breaks indoors.
Thunder Bay Weather Trivia: A Record-Breaking Chill?
Historically, Thunder Bay’s coldest temperature on this date was a staggering -40.0°C in 1914—so while today is brutally cold, it’s not quite record-breaking. The warmest February 11 on record? A relatively balmy 5.0°C in 1984.
Stay warm, Thunder Bay! If you don’t have to go outside, today might be the perfect excuse to stay indoors with a hot drink and a good book.
