A Chilly Start with Flurries on the Horizon
Kenora starts at -16°C with frigid wind chills, flurries ahead, and a milder weekend on the way. Snow and freezing drizzle expected
Kenora and the Lake of the Woods region woke up to a frigid morning at -16°C as observed at the Kenora Airport at 6:00 AM. The skies are mostly cloudy, and with a brisk south-southwest wind at 19 km/h, gusting to 29 km/h, it feels more like -25°C with the wind chill. The barometric pressure sits at 102.6 kPa and is falling, suggesting some changes ahead. Humidity is at 59%, meaning the air is dry but biting cold.
The day will start clear, but clouds will move in, bringing a 60% chance of flurries this afternoon. Winds will shift southwest at 20 km/h, gusting up to 40 km/h, keeping the chill in the air. The high will struggle to reach -11°C, but with the wind chill, it will feel like -29°C this morning and -17°C this afternoon. Bundle up because there’s a risk of frostbite for any exposed skin! The UV index is low at 2, so while sunglasses may not be a priority, a warm scarf and thick gloves certainly are.
Tonight: Flurries and Snow Moving In
Cloudy conditions will dominate the evening, with a 30% chance of flurries before midnight. Overnight, periods of snow will begin, though only a light accumulation is expected. Winds will be lighter, up to 15 km/h, but with a low of -13°C and a wind chill of -19°C, it’s still a night to keep the winter gear handy.
Weekend Outlook: Milder Temps but Snowy Skies
Saturday, February 22
Periods of snow will continue into the morning before tapering off by early afternoon, leaving behind cloudy skies and a lingering 30% chance of flurries. There’s also a risk of freezing drizzle late in the morning and afternoon, so watch out for slippery roads and sidewalks. About 2 cm of snow is expected. Winds will be light at 15 km/h, and temperatures will rise to -2°C. However, the wind chill will make it feel like -16°C in the morning and -4°C in the afternoon—an improvement but still chilly!
Saturday night remains cloudy, with a continued 30% chance of flurries. The low will dip to -6°C.
Sunday, February 23
Sunday brings more cloudy skies with a 60% chance of flurries, but the big news is the temperature, which will finally climb above freezing to a high of +1°C. It’s a welcome warm-up after a long stretch of deep winter cold.
Sunday night, however, will see another round of snow moving in, with a low of -5°C. If you have travel plans, keep an eye on road conditions, as snowfall could make for tricky driving.
Wardrobe Suggestions: Layer Up, But a Slight Break from the Deep Freeze!
With extreme wind chills this morning and temperatures still well below freezing, heavy winter coats, insulated boots, and gloves are a must. If you’re out for long periods, be mindful of frostbite risks. By the weekend, the slight warm-up will mean you can shed some layers, but waterproof outerwear will be useful with the potential for snow and freezing drizzle.
Weather Trivia: Kenora’s Coldest February on Record!
Did you know? Kenora’s coldest recorded February temperature was a staggering -45.6°C on February 2, 1996. Compared to that, today’s -16°C feels downright tropical!
