Winter Storm Warning: Ice, Snow & Dangerous Travel Conditions

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Dryden, Vermilion Bay, and Highway 17, as a powerful cold front sweeps through the region today. Rain, freezing rain, ice pellets, and heavy snow will make for extremely hazardous travel conditions, with roads becoming icy and snow-covered. If you don’t have to travel—stay put!

Saturday, March 15: A Winter Storm in Full Force

The morning starts at 3°C, but don’t be fooled—temperatures will plummet rapidly. Humidity sits at 91%, and barometric pressure is falling at 98.6 kPa, signaling deteriorating weather conditions.

Expect periods of rain changing to snow mixed with ice pellets this morning, with a risk of freezing rain and thunderstorms early on. Fog patches will dissipate by mid-morning, but visibility will remain poor as the system intensifies.

Snow and ice accumulations will total 5 to 10 cm, with wind picking up from the northwest at 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h by noon. As the temperature drops to -6°C in the afternoon, the wind chill will make it feel like -13°C.

Travel conditions will be extremely difficult due to icy roads, snow accumulation, and blowing snow reducing visibility.

Tonight, periods of snow taper off, but flurries remain likely (40% chance). Another 2 cm of snow is expected. Winds stay strong from the northwest at 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, and the temperature plunges to -14°C. Wind chills drop to a brutal -25°C overnight.

Sunday, March 16: Frigid & Blustery

The storm moves out, but cold air stays locked in. Expect mainly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of early morning flurries, then clearing in the afternoon. Winds will stay brisk from the northwest at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h, before easing up later in the day.

The high will only reach -5°C, but with the wind chill, it will feel like -23°C in the morning and -10°C in the afternoon. A true winter day!

Sunday night brings partly cloudy skies, with temperatures dipping to -13°C.

Monday, March 17: A Cold & Snowy St. Patrick’s Day

Monday continues the wintery trend, with a 60% chance of snow and a high of -1°C.

By nighttime, flurries remain possible (30% chance), and temperatures drop back to -13°C.

What to Wear?

• Saturday: Full winter gear—waterproof boots, insulated coat, gloves, and a hat. Roads will be icy, and snow will be blowing around.
• Sunday: Dress in layers with a thick winter coat, hat, scarf, and gloves—wind chills will make it feel brutally cold.
• Monday: A warm jacket and winter boots—flurries are likely, and it will still feel chilly.

Dryden & Vermilion Bay Weather Trivia

Did you know? The coldest March temperature ever recorded in Dryden was -40.6°C on March 1, 1962. While this weekend will be cold, it won’t be record-breaking—just unpleasantly wintery!