Spring or Winter? Ontario’s Roads Offer a Bit of Both!

Travellers across Ontario face rain, freezing rain, snow, and blowing snow on highways today. Get the latest road conditions for Toronto, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and beyond

THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – Travellers hitting the roads across Ontario today will need to prepare for a mixed bag of conditions, from heavy snow and freezing rain in the north to wind and rain in the south. Whether you’re heading along Highway 17 or braving the more remote stretches of Highway 11, road conditions will vary significantly throughout the day. Here’s what to expect as you travel through key regions.

Toronto to Sudbury: Wet Roads, Windy Conditions, and Freezing Rain North of the GTA

Toronto starts off wet and windy, with showers this morning and gusts up to 60 km/h. Temperatures are on a sharp downward trend, falling from 13°C to 2°C by afternoon, with flurries possible tonight. Highway 400 northbound will likely be wet, but once you approach Sudbury, conditions take a turn for the worse.

Sudbury is under a Freezing Rain Warning, with up to 5 mm of ice accumulation expected early this morning before switching to 5 cm of snow. Roads will be slick and icy, particularly on bridges, overpasses, and secondary routes. Drive with caution, as blowing snow this afternoon could further reduce visibility.

Sault Ste. Marie & Highway 17: Winter Storm Conditions Continue

The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Sault Ste. Marie and St. Joseph Island, where total snowfall accumulations of 15-25 cm have already made travel difficult to hazardous. Snow will taper off this morning, but blowing snow from gusty northwest winds (up to 60 km/h) will continue to reduce visibility on Highway 17 east of the city. If you can delay travel, it may be best to wait until conditions improve.

Further east toward Sudbury, roads may still be slick from earlier freezing rain and snow, while westbound towards Wawa and Marathon, expect fresh snowfall accumulation and potential drifts from strong winds.

Highway 11 (Geraldton & Thunder Bay): A Calm Start Before Snow Moves In

Geraldton and the Highway 11 corridor begin the day cold and clear at -10°C, but flurries and blowing snow will develop overnight with 2-4 cm of snowfall. Winds gusting to 50 km/h will make driving tricky by late evening.

Thunder Bay is clear and chilly this morning (-7°C), with road conditions generally good for now. However, increasing cloud cover and flurries overnight will bring slick sections on roadways, especially along elevated areas and exposed stretches of Highway 11/17. A sharp temperature rise to 5°C overnight will briefly improve conditions before a dramatic drop to -6°C tomorrow, leading to refreezing and black ice concerns.

Sioux Lookout, Dryden & Kenora: Snow and Blowing Snow Incoming

Sioux Lookout begins the day at -17°C with mainly clear skies, but strong winds and flurries will develop this evening, creating patches of blowing snow overnight. Travel along Highway 72 and Highway 17 eastward toward Thunder Bay may be difficult after sunset due to reduced visibility.

Dryden and Vermilion Bay start cold at -11°C but will warm up to +3°C today before temperatures plummet again tonight. Expect rain showers turning to snow, with blowing snow overnight reducing visibility on Highway 17 between Dryden and Ignace.

Kenora and Lake of the Woods also see a mild spell today (+3°C) before flurries and strong winds return overnight. Highway 17 westbound toward the Manitoba border could have localized icy patches by morning as temperatures fall to -10°C.

Final Road Travel Tips

• Highway 400 & Highway 69 (Toronto to Sudbury): Wet roads turn icy north of Parry Sound; use caution on bridges and ramps.
• Highway 17 (Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie): Snow-covered, blowing snow west of Espanola, hazardous conditions near the Soo.
• Highway 17 (Thunder Bay to Kenora): Good daytime conditions, but flurries and blowing snow overnight will make travel tricky.
• Highway 11 (North Bay to Geraldton): Generally fair this morning, but snow and blowing snow will develop overnight, making northern stretches difficult.

Bottom Line: If you’re travelling today, prepare for a mix of wet roads in the south, snow and freezing rain in the north, and blowing snow making visibility a challenge across many stretches of Highway 17 and Highway 11. Delaying travel in storm-affected areas is recommended until conditions improve.