Sault Ste. Marie Set for an Ice-Filled Spring Spectacle
Sault Ste. Marie braces for a spring ice storm with freezing rain, snow, and ice pellets expected from Friday through Monday. Power outages and slick roads likely
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – March 27, 2025 – Mother Nature is clearly not ready to let go of winter in the Soo. A Special Weather Statement is in place for Sault Ste. Marie and St. Joseph Island, warning of a potent spring ice storm expected to arrive Friday and linger through Monday. With the potential for freezing rain, ice pellets, snow, and even utility outages, residents are being urged to prepare for a messy, slippery weekend ahead.
Today’s Weather – Breezy and Mixed, but Don’t Let It Fool You
This morning, conditions at Sault Ste. Marie Airport are mostly cloudy, with a temperature of -3.9°C and a wind chill of -6°C. Humidity is a muggy 90%, with pressure at 101.9 kPa and falling — a subtle hint of the storm brewing to the west. Winds are currently from the east at 5 km/h, but things will change quickly.
Today’s forecast brings a mix of sun and cloud, with a 70% chance of rain showers or flurries by late morning and afternoon. Skies are expected to clear late this afternoon, giving us one last glance at the sun before the weekend’s wintry wrath. Southwest winds will shift northwest, reaching 30 km/h with gusts up to 50. The high will reach +3°C, though it’ll feel more like -12°C this morning.
Tonight, skies will remain partly cloudy before cloud cover thickens again near midnight. Winds ease this evening before switching to a strong east wind at 20 km/h by morning. The overnight low dips to -7°C, with a wind chill of -13°C.
Friday and the Weekend – A Messy Medley of Snow, Ice, and Rain
Friday sets the stage for the incoming storm, with cloudy skies and snow or ice pellets beginning in the morning, then transitioning to freezing rain or more ice pellets in the afternoon. Expect 2 to 4 cm of accumulation, and local blowing snow thanks to east winds at 30 km/h, gusting to 50. Temperatures will rise to only -1°C, with wind chills of -13°C in the morning and -8°C in the afternoon.
Friday night turns even messier with periods of snow or rain, remaining windy and dipping to -4°C. This will set the stage for more precipitation Saturday, but at least the temperature will rise to a relative high of +5°C. However, by Saturday night, freezing rain or snow returns, with temperatures falling to -5°C.
Sunday looks downright icy with more freezing rain or snow, a high of +1°C, and more snow expected Sunday night as temperatures plummet to -9°C. Monday will be a chilly reprieve with a mix of sun and cloud, a high of -1°C, and an overnight low of -12°C — just enough to keep everything frozen in place.
Wardrobe and Weather Tips – Bundle Up and Walk Carefully
This is not your average spring weekend. You’ll need winter boots with solid traction, a waterproof coat, hat, mittens, and ideally a personal weather radar. Stay off roads when freezing rain begins — even short walks can become slippery slide contests.
Keep your phone charged and your pantry stocked in case power outages hit, especially Saturday night into Sunday, when ice accretion could reach up to 15–20 mm, enough to bring down tree limbs and power lines.
Weather Records and Sault Trivia
On this date, Sault Ste. Marie’s historical high reached a surprisingly warm 21.5°C in 1968, while the record low plummeted to -23.3°C in 1970. We’re not getting anywhere near either extreme — instead, we get a sampler platter of everything cold and wet.
Did you know? Sault Ste. Marie sits right in one of Ontario’s classic “freezing rain corridors” — where cold northern air hugs the ground while warm, moist air overruns it from the south. It’s nature’s perfect recipe for sky-drizzled ice.
