From Wet and Windy to Clear and Cozy for the Victoria Day Long Weekend
FORT FRANCES – WEATHER REPORT – The Victoria Day long weekend in Fort Frances, Atikokan, Red Gut First Nation, and Mine Centre is rolling in with a very “May in Northwestern Ontario” attitude—starting off gloomy and soggy, dabbling in a touch of cold drizzle or flurries, and finally closing with sunshine and some well-deserved spring warmth.
As of 4:00 AM CDT, Fort Frances is reporting 11.7°C under mostly cloudy skies with humidity sitting at 87%. The winds are from the southeast at 17 km/h, and the barometric pressure is dropping steadily at 99.0 kPa—Mother Nature is clearly prepping for some unsettled weather.
Extended Forecast: Soggy, Then Frosty, Before a Sunny Long Weekend Finish
Today, Friday, will keep the clouds overhead, with a 60 percent chance of showers this morning turning to steadier rain by noon. Winds from the southeast will pick up to 20 km/h, gusting to 40, but will calm by the afternoon as temperatures reach a rather cool 14°C. The UV index will be moderate at 3—clouds are king today.
Tonight, prepare for a shift. Periods of rain will continue into the evening, and as cold northern air surges in, winds will swing around to the north at 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h after midnight. Temperatures will dip close to the freezing mark, settling at just 1°C—frost advisory territory for the early risers.
Saturday holds onto the cloudy skies with a 40 percent chance of rain showers, and yes, a flirtation with some flurries can’t be ruled out. Temperatures will hover around a chilly 6°C for the high, while the night will remain cloudy with temperatures steady at around 1°C.
Sunday finally brings a break from the gloom with clearing skies and a high of 11°C. The night will stay clear but chilly, dipping to zero.
Victoria Day Monday will live up to its festive reputation, bringing sunny skies and a mild high of 15°C—ideal for outdoor adventures, backyard BBQs, or maybe a calm paddle on Rainy Lake. Monday night will see increasing cloudiness but stay comfortably mild at 5°C.
Weather Tip: This is One of Those “Pack Everything” Weekends
Whether you’re setting up at the family camp, boating, or heading to the powwow trail, bring all your weather gear. Rain boots, winter coats, cozy hoodies, and sunglasses will all be useful at some point. Saturday’s possible flurries might be the last gasp of winter—Monday promises a far more photo-friendly forecast.
Fort Frances Weather Trivia
Fun fact—Fort Frances’ earliest recorded May snowfall was on May 16, 1929. So, if you see a snowflake or two Saturday, you’ll be part of the region’s frosty folklore!
