THUNDER BAY – (Updated – Highway Closure 8:50AM) – Road conditions across Northwestern Ontario are already impacting travel.
The Trans-Canada Highway heading east from Thunder Bay is closed near Rossport due to an accident with a semi-truck due to icy roads.
As well in Dryden, the Handi-Bus service is not operating today due to road conditions.
Hope you enjoyed the short taste of spring. Environment Canada is saying that it is not going to last. A very large variety of significant weather types will affect Northern Ontario tonight and Friday. Currently very mild air has invaded all but extreme northwestern sections near Red Lake with Plenty of cloud..Some drizzle and showers..And fog patches. The fog will be particularly dense at times especially over Northeastern Ontario with near zero visibilities expected tonight into early Friday morning.
Motorists in these regions should be prepared for sudden very low visibility in dense fog and allow extra time to reach their destination.
Meanwhile a very sharp Arctic cold front will blast across areas west of Lake Superior to the Manitoba border tonight. Strong winds in the wake of this front will cause temperatures to plummet dramatically tonight..Resulting in untreated surfaces that may be wet from melting snow or the odd shower to freeze over quickly. Travelling conditions in this case may suddenly become quite hazardous and slippery due to the sudden formation of ice.
In the wake of the front..An area of snow will affect parts of Northwestern Ontario depositing a few cm of the white stuff by Friday morning as winter returns with a vengeance. Brief freezing rain is also possible late this evening and overnight, but is not expected to be significant.
The cold front will reach areas east of Lake Superior by Friday morning then continue to sweep across the remainder of Northeastern Ontario during the day. Snow squalls may develop off of Lake Superior into the Superior East regions by Friday morning..And a snow squall watch is now in effect as a result.
Environment Canada is closely monitoring this situation.
Flash freeze warnings may be issued for parts of Northwestern Ontario especially if rain starts to fall just as the cold front moves through.