A Snowy and Windy Night for Sioux Lookout
Sioux Lookout and Lac Seul are bracing for a wintry mix tonight, with light snow already in the air. As of 10:00 PM CST, the temperature is -4°C at Sioux Lookout Airport, but a gentle west-southwest breeze at 10 km/h is making it feel like a colder -8°C. With humidity at 93%, the air is damp, and the snow is set to stick around. Visibility is good at 24 km for now, but that’s expected to change as conditions worsen. The barometric pressure is at 100.2 kPa and falling, signaling more active weather on the way.
Overnight, flurries will pick up, and there’s even a risk of freezing drizzle lingering from earlier this evening. As the night progresses, local blowing snow is likely, thanks to strengthening northwest winds gusting up to 50 km/h. The temperature will dip to -8°C, with a wind chill making it feel like a biting -16°C. If you’re headed out tonight, hold on to your hats—literally!
Thursday, January 16: Flurries and Chilly Breezes
Thursday will bring more clouds and a 40% chance of flurries in the morning. Those gusty northwest winds will taper off to 20 km/h in the morning but remain a nuisance, with gusts up to 40 km/h. Winds will calm significantly by late afternoon, but temperatures will stay wintry. The high will reach -6°C, with wind chills making it feel like -17°C in the morning and -10°C in the afternoon.
By the evening, get ready for a snowy encore. Snow will begin in earnest, bringing an accumulation of up to 5 cm overnight. South winds will pick up again, gusting to 40 km/h late in the evening. The low will remain at -8°C, though the wind chill will fluctuate, feeling like -15°C in the evening before improving slightly to -10°C overnight.
Friday, January 17: Snowy Day Followed by Deep Freeze
Friday will keep the snow coming, with periods of snowfall throughout the day. Temperatures will climb slightly to a high of -3°C, offering some relief from Thursday’s chill. However, the night will take a dramatic turn, with clouds breaking up and the mercury plummeting to a jaw-dropping -26°C. This sharp drop will usher in an extremely cold weekend, so get ready to hibernate.
Saturday, January 18: Arctic Sunshine and Record-Setting Lows
Saturday will be sunny but bitterly cold. The high will only reach -23°C, and overnight temperatures will nosedive to a staggering -34°C under clear skies. These are the kinds of conditions where you don’t just grab a scarf—you grab all the scarves. With frostbite risks high, outdoor activities will need to be kept to a minimum.
Historic Highs and Lows
For January 15, Sioux Lookout’s warmest recorded temperature was a mild 5.0°C, set back in 1981. In stark contrast, the coldest temperature recorded on this date was a teeth-chattering -41.1°C in 1972. While tonight’s low of -8°C feels icy, it’s far from historic extremes—though Saturday’s forecast low of -34°C could come close to those record lows.
What to Wear
Tonight and tomorrow will feel frosty, with wind chills ranging from -10°C to -17°C. You’ll need a good winter jacket, a toque, and gloves to stay comfortable. If you’re heading out Friday night or anytime Saturday, break out the heavy-duty winter gear—think thermal underwear, balaclavas, and insulated boots. Frostbite risks will be high, so keep your skin covered!
Fun Weather Trivia
Did you know that Sioux Lookout was named for its historical role as a strategic lookout point during conflicts between the Ojibwe and the Sioux? Today, the region is better known for its natural beauty, particularly in winter when the snow transforms the lakes and forests into a postcard-perfect scene.
