NetNewsLedger Weather Desk – Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay – WEATHER – Thunder Bay is waking up to a deceptively calm winter morning, with cold air in place and a fresh round of snow and wind lining up for later today.
At 6:00 AM EST, conditions at Thunder Bay Airport were partly cloudy with a temperature of –9.7°C (we’ll call it –10°C). A west-southwest wind at 7 km/h is making it feel closer to –14°C in the wind chill.
Humidity is sitting at 86 percent, with a dew point of –11.6°C, and visibility is a clear 24 kilometres.
The barometric pressure is 101.6 kPa and falling, a hint that the weather is about to get more active as a system slides through the region today.
Today: Periods of Snow and Increasing Wind
The forecast calls for a mainly cloudy day with periods of snow beginning this morning. By the time the snow tapers, 2 to 4 centimetres of accumulation is expected. It’s not a major storm, but enough to coat roads, sidewalks and driveways and keep plows and sanders busy.
As the day progresses, winds will strengthen. Northwest winds near 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, are expected early this afternoon. The temperature will top out near –10°C, but the wind chill will feel closer to –24°C this morning and about –17°C this afternoon. That’s the kind of cold that stings your cheeks and fingertips quickly if you’re not properly bundled up, especially in open areas or near the waterfront.
Tonight: Flurries, Strong Gusts and Bitter Wind Chill
Tonight stays mainly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of flurries, and the wind doesn’t let up. Northwest winds of 30 km/h, gusting up to 60 km/h, will continue to push colder air over the city. The low is expected to drop to around –19°C, and with those winds, the wind chill will sit near –21°C this evening and fall to about –30°C overnight.
Those are frostbite-risk values, particularly for exposed skin. If you’re out late, shovelling, walking, or working outdoors, you’ll want full winter gear – this is not “just toss on a hoodie” weather.
Saturday and Sunday: Bright but Brutal, Then Cloud Moves Back In
Saturday brings a bit of sun but keeps the deep cold. Expect a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 percent chance of flurries, and northwest winds around 20 km/h by early afternoon. The high will only reach –15°C, and the wind chill will hover near –28°C, keeping the risk of frostbite in play, especially in the morning or anywhere exposed to the wind.
Saturday night skies will clear, and the temperature will fall to around –22°C. It’ll be a beautiful night to look up at the stars… from inside, under a blanket.
On Sunday, Thunder Bay enjoys sunny skies and another high near –15°C. It will be a classic bright, cold winter day. Sunday night, however, cloud returns with a 60 percent chance of snow and a low near –13°C, as another disturbance approaches from the west.
Early next week, Monday looks like a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 percent chance of flurries and a high around –8°C, followed by cloudy periods and a 30 percent chance of flurries Monday night with a low near –12°C. As the week progresses into Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures look to edge closer to the freezing mark at times with more chances of flurries and snow, but winter remains firmly in control.
What to Wear in Thunder Bay
This is full-on winter gear weather, especially with those wind chills dipping into the –20s and near –30 overnight. To stay safe and reasonably comfortable:
Layer up, starting with a thermal or fleece base layer, then a warm sweater or hoodie, and top it all with a proper insulated winter coat. Jeans on their own will feel very thin at these wind chills, so lined pants or snow pants are a smart move if you’re walking, waiting for transit, heading to school, or spending any real time outside.
On your feet, insulated winter boots with good tread are essential with fresh snow on top of older packed snow and ice. Add thick socks for extra warmth. A toque that covers your ears, warm mitts instead of thin gloves, and a scarf or neck warmer you can pull over your mouth and nose will help protect against frostbite when the wind kicks up. With some sunny breaks expected Saturday and Sunday, sunglasses are also handy to cut glare from the snow, especially if you’re driving or anywhere with open, bright surfaces.
Thunder Bay Weather Trivia – Sunshine and Siberia Vibes
Thunder Bay is known for getting more winter sunshine than many southern Ontario cities, but that bonus light often arrives with a catch: colder Arctic air flowing in from the northwest. That’s exactly the setup we’re seeing now – frequent bright spells, stinging wind chills and light snows that keep everything coated. It’s one of those stretches where the harbour, the Sleeping Giant and snow-covered streets all look beautiful… as long as you’re dressed like you’re visiting Siberia, not just heading downtown.
Weather in a Sentence:
Thunder Bay sees snow today with 2–4 cm expected, strong northwest winds, and wind chills dropping to –30°C tonight, with frostbite risk and a cold, sunny weekend.
