THUNDER BAY – Weather will likely be the story in Northwestern Ontario on Sunday. A Special Weather Statement is in effect for areas along Lake Superior including Thunder Bay, Nipigon, all the way to Wawa.
A Weather Warning is in effect for the far north including Fort Severn and Peawanuk along the James Bay coast.
For Thunder Bay, snow is in the forecast. Residents will wake up to amounts up to seven centimetres that have fallen overnight. The forecast is calling for as much as five to ten more centimetres of the white stuff by later this evening.
The City of Thunder Bay will get on road clearing through Sunday.
While the Alberta Clipper is giving significant snowfall amounts to Thunder Bay, far less snow has fallen or is forecast to fall west of the city.
For Sioux Lookout, Environment Canada is calling for periods of snow with amounts from two to four centimetres. The temperature will be steady near minus 11. By Sunday night, the forecast is calling for periods of snow with amounts near two centimetres. m. Wind north 20 km/h. Low -19c with a wind chill making it feel like -28c.
While the Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for Fort Severn and Peawanuck, other communities in the far north, are experiencing very cold conditions as well.
In Landsdowne House it is mainly cloudy with a forty percent chance of flurries. Winds are becoming east 20 km/h this morning. The forecast high is -18c but with the wind chill it will feel like -40c.
Road Conditions
Special weather statement in effect for:
- City of Thunder Bay
Snow will continue today as a strong Alberta Clipper tracks from Southern Manitoba across Northern Minnesota to Lake Superior by tonight.
Snowfall amounts of 7 cm have already been reported at Thunder Bay early this morning. A further 5 to 10 cm is expected today across the region, bringing total amounts up to 15 to 20 cm by this evening.
Visibility may be reduced in areas of heavy snow and blowing snow. Untreated highways will become snow covered and slippery.
The snow is expected to become lighter and more intermittent tonight, with perhaps an additional 2 cm expected by Monday morning.
Motorists traveling along the Trans Canada Highway between Wawa and Thunder Bay should exercise caution, and allow extra time to reach their destination.
Extreme Cold Warning in effect for:
- Fort Severn
- Peawanuck
A period of very cold wind chills is expected.
A bitterly cold airmass entrenched over far Northwestern Ontario will combine with light winds to produce extreme wind chill values of minus 45 to minus 50 this morning.
Wind chill values will slowly improve this afternoon as temperatures moderate.
Watch for cold related symptoms and complaints which include:
– Respiratory: shortness of breath, wheezing and cough
– Cardiovascular: chest pain and arrhythmias
– Circulation: colour change of finger and toes, pain, numbness and tickling sensation in extremities
– Muscle: pain, stiffness, swelling, restricted movement, weakness
– Skin: itching, pale.
If you experience these symptoms when exposed to the cold, move indoors and begin warming.
Know your health risks.
– Talk to your health professional to see if you are at an increased risk from increase cold due to medical condition.
– If you have health problems such as a heart condition, you may wish to avoid strenuous activities like shoveling snow.
