Northern Ont.: Gusty winds spur snow squalls, dicey travel
theweathernetwork.com
Friday, October 12, 2018, 7:46 AM - A true tale of two seasons across Ontario this week as southern regions basked in rare and record-breaking October warmth, while parts of the north were dealt a hand of heavy rain and hefty accumulating snow. While the warnings have dropped as this system makes its retreat from the region, isolated snow squalls will impact travel through Saturday morning. More on the dicey winter conditions, below.
(A look at the next three months: Your Official 2018 Fall Forecast)
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Squalls of rain and snow showers off of Lake Superior may make for challenging driving conditions through Saturday morning
- Chilly pattern dominates next week, another system tracks across the region Monday night - Wednesday with some snow and lake effect snow for the Sault Ste. Marie area
- BE PREPARED: Monitor weather alerts for your area, here
WATCH BELOW: SNOW SQUALL TIMING
SNOW SQUALLS THREATEN TRAVEL THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
A strong low pressure system that's been blasting northern Ontario has brought heavy rainfall in the northeast and snow, ice pellets and freezing rain across the northwest.
The snow from this system will start to taper off from west to east through Friday, but drivers could be challenged by snow squalls as gusty northwesterly winds develop over Lake Superior.
"Areas east of the lake between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie could be dealing with intense snow bands through Friday," warns Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg. "Snowfall in those squalls can add up fairly quickly and blowing and drifting snow will be something to watch for if you're commuting along that area."
In addition to the snow squalls, much colder air remains locked in place with eyes on another shot of snow through the weekend. The weekend system however, will contain less moisture and snowfall totals are expected to be much lower than amounts recorded previously this week. We're also watching another system set to track across the region Monday night through Wednesday with some snow and lake effect snow for the Sault Ste. Marie area.
