Ice Storm Hits Sudbury Hard – Freezing Rain, Ice Pellets, and Snow On Tap

Sudbury, ON – Monday, March 31, 2025 – Greater Sudbury is waking up to a scene straight out of a winter thriller, with a Freezing Rain Warning still in effect this morning. As of 6:00 AM, light freezing rain continues to fall over the region, with a current temperature of -4.7°C.

It feels even colder with the wind chill slicing down to -12, courtesy of a stiff north-northeast wind at 26 km/h, gusting to 41. Visibility remains surprisingly clear at 24 km, but don’t let that fool you – roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots are treacherous with layers of ice.

The barometric pressure is at 99.8 kPa and falling, a signal that the storm is still working its way through. Humidity is sitting at a damp 93%, making the cold feel even more penetrating.

The Ice Ends, But the Chill Deepens – Today’s Forecast

The good news? This hazardous freezing rain is set to end later this morning as temperatures slowly rise. The bad news? The transition won’t be gentle.

Expect a switch from freezing rain to ice pellets, followed by a round of snow before things settle into a cloudy afternoon. Snow and ice pellet accumulation is expected to total around 2 cm.

Winds will shift to the northwest later this morning, picking up to 20 km/h and gusting as high as 40 km/h. The daytime high will reach a modest +1°C, but with the wind chill, it will feel like -12°C for much of the morning. Bundle up and tread carefully—there’s beauty in an ice-covered tree, but not in slipping on your front step.

UV index today is a moderate 3, though the sun will have a hard time making much of an appearance.

Tonight and This Week – Sudbury Stays in the Deep Freeze

By tonight, skies will gradually clear around midnight, but the real headliner is the temperature drop. Expect a low of -14°C, and with wind chill values plummeting to -20, it’ll feel downright polar. Northwest winds continue at 20 km/h, gusting to 40, adding bite to the bitter cold.

Tuesday is shaping up to be bright and sunny, but deceptively so—morning wind chills will feel like -23, with a daytime high of only -2°C. Winds from the north will calm slightly as the day goes on. Clear skies continue into Tuesday night, with a low of -12°C.

Wednesday brings more snow and a return to windy conditions. Expect a high near -2°C and a wintry mix to return Wednesday night with freezing rain or rain likely, and a low of -1°C. Old Man Winter, it seems, is refusing to pack it in for the season.

Wardrobe Suggestion

Today’s conditions call for full winter armor: insulated boots with excellent grip, waterproof outer layers, and gloves that can withstand icy metal surfaces. If you’re venturing out early, a scarf and hat are essential – frostbite is still very much on the menu.

This Day in Sudbury Weather History

On March 31, Sudbury has seen wild swings in weather. The record high for this date hit 15.2°C in 2010, while the record low dropped to a chilling -26.7°C in 1964. Today’s -4.7°C start puts us somewhere in the middle, but the icy conditions definitely give it an edge.

Did You Know?

Sudbury is no stranger to icy drama. In 1998, parts of Northern Ontario, including Sudbury, were hit with one of Canada’s worst ice storms on record, causing massive power outages and tree damage. While today’s event isn’t quite that scale, it’s a frosty reminder of just how powerful a few millimetres of ice can be.