NetNewsLedger Weather – Sault Ste. Marie Weather Update

THUNDER BAY – WEATHER DESK – Sault Ste. Marie is waking up under a soft blanket of snow this morning, with the kind of quiet winter scene that looks pretty from indoors and a bit less charming once you have to brush off the car.

At 6:00 AM EST, conditions at Sault Ste. Marie Airport were reporting a light snowshower, with the temperature at –10.1°C. Winds were calm at observation time, which is a rare and welcome break given how often the wind off Lake Superior likes to make itself known.

Humidity is high at 88 percent, with a dew point of –11.7°C, which is helping keep that snowy, slightly damp feel in the air. Visibility is reduced to about 5 kilometres in the light snow, and the barometric pressure sits at 101.1 kPa and is rising, a sign that the worst of this little system is on its way out, at least for the rest of today.

Through the morning, a few flurries are expected to continue, with local snowfall amounts near 2 centimetres before the snow tapers. As the day wears on, skies will transition to a mix of sun and cloud, giving Soo residents a few brighter breaks. The high will reach about –5°C, but once a northwest wind develops later today, strengthening to near 20 km/h, the wind chill will feel more like –15°C. That is cold enough to nip at fingers and ears if you are out for any length of time without decent winter gear.

Tonight, the sky turns cloudy again, with about a 40 percent chance of flurries late this evening and overnight. Northwest winds of 20 km/h will ease and become light later in the evening, and the low will fall to around –9°C. With the lingering breeze, the wind chill will hover near –14°C, making it feel a fair bit colder than the number on the thermometer. Roads and sidewalks may stay slick, especially where daytime melting or compaction refreezes after dark.

Friday is the day to keep an eye on, especially if you travel frequently or live near open stretches exposed to Lake Superior. Flurries are expected to continue into the morning with a risk of snow squalls developing through the morning and early afternoon. These bands can produce sudden, intense bursts of snow and quick drops in visibility, even if the broader forecast does not call for a major storm. Local snowfall amounts of about 5 centimetres are possible, and where squall bands linger, roads could become snow-covered and tricky in a hurry.

By early Friday afternoon, the initial burst of flurries should ease, leaving mainly cloudy skies with about a 30 percent chance of more flurries. However, flurries are expected to redevelop late in the afternoon. Winds remain relatively light, up to 15 km/h, and the high will reach near –3°C. Wind chills will feel closer to –12°C in the morning and around –7°C in the afternoon, which is chilly but manageable with proper clothing. Another round of flurries is expected Friday night, with a low around –9°C, which will keep surfaces slick heading into Saturday.

The weekend continues with a wintry pattern. Saturday is forecast to be cloudy with a 60 percent chance of flurries and a high near –9°C. Saturday night stays cloudy with a 40 percent chance of flurries and a low around –14°C. Sunday brings more cloud and a 30 percent chance of flurries, with a high near –9°C and another chance of flurries Sunday night with a low near –12°C.

Monday keeps the pattern going with a 40 percent chance of flurries and a high near –6°C, followed by a cloudy night near –8°C. By Tuesday and Wednesday the cloud persists, with highs edging slowly warmer toward –4°C and then –1°C by midweek, but still firmly in winter mode.

When you are picking what to wear in Sault Ste. Marie today, think “comfortably bundled,” not “I’ll be fine in a hoodie.” A warm winter coat, ideally insulated and wind-resistant, will go a long way. Layering a thermal top or fleece under a sweater will help trap body heat. On the bottom, jeans alone can feel pretty thin in –15 wind chill, so lined pants or long underwear make a big difference, especially if you are out walking or waiting for transit. Warm winter boots with decent tread are important with fresh snow and potential icy patches.

Do not forget your toque and gloves; mitts tend to keep fingers warmer than thin gloves, especially with a light northwest wind building this afternoon. A scarf or neck warmer that you can pull up over your mouth and nose will make that –15 wind chill much more bearable. With some sunshine expected later today, a pair of sunglasses is also helpful to deal with glare off the snow, especially near the waterfront or on open roads.

For a bit of local weather trivia, Sault Ste. Marie’s winter reputation comes not just from big storms, but from its position as a prime target for lake-effect snow off Lake Superior. Winds from the right direction can turn modest systems into prolific snow producers, especially for areas just east of the city and along Highway 17. That is why some days the Soo itself sees just a gentle flurry, while communities a short drive away are digging out from a heavy band that chose them as its landing zone.

Last Word:
Sault Ste. Marie starts at –10°C with light snow, a few flurries and sun today, flurries returning Friday with a risk of snow squalls, and continued chilly conditions.