NetNewsLedger Weather Desk – Fort Hope (Eabametoong First Nation)

THUNDER BAY – WEATHER DESK – Fort Hope is waking up to a classic Far North December morning: grey skies, light snow, and a wind that makes it feel colder than the thermometer suggests.

At 6:00 AM EST, observations from Lansdowne House Airport show light snow falling with a temperature of –13.8°C, rounded to –14°C for the forecast headline. Humidity is running high at 89 percent with a dew point of –15.2°C, and visibility sits around 16 kilometres despite the light snow.

The wind is coming in from the west near 11 km/h, pushing the wind chill down to about –20°C. The barometric pressure is 101.3 kPa, hinting at a fairly typical early-week setup: cold, cloudy and gradually shifting toward more active weather.

For mid-December, Fort Hope is very much in its normal winter lane. This is the time of year when daytime highs often land in the minus teens and overnight lows slide into the minus twenties or colder. The pattern certainly looks like standard northern Ontario winter, with an extra punch of serious cold coming later this week.

Today will stay cloudy, with about a 40 percent chance of flurries this morning. Winds will turn southwest at 20 km/h before easing off early in the day, leaving a light breeze in the afternoon. The temperature will climb gently to a high near –12°C, but the wind chill will still feel closer to –22°C for much of the day. That means exposed skin will cool quickly, and it will not take long for fingers, noses and ears to start complaining.

Tonight, the sky will be partly cloudy in the evening, then cloud cover will return overnight as the next system approaches. Winds will pick up again, becoming south 20 km/h gusting to 40 km/h after midnight. The low will drop to about –20°C, with a wind chill of around –22°C in the evening and near –30°C overnight. At those values, there is a clear risk of frostbite, especially for anyone outside on a snowmachine, walking between buildings, or spending longer periods outdoors without full winter gear.

Tuesday is the big snow day. The forecast calls for cloudy skies with snow beginning in the morning and continuing through the day. Snowfall amounts are expected to reach 5 to 10 centimetres, enough to significantly freshen the snowpack, cover any old tracks and make for deeper drifts in open areas. Winds will be out of the southwest at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h, then becoming light in the afternoon as the low passes. The high will climb to near –1°C, which will feel almost mild compared to the deeper cold of the mornings. Even so, the wind chill will start around –25°C early in the day, only easing to about –6°C in the afternoon.

Tuesday night keeps the snow going, with periods of snow and a low near –22°C. As the wind relaxes and the sky gradually clears later in the week, the cold will tighten its grip. On Wednesday, there will be a mix of sun and cloud with about a 30 percent chance of flurries and a high near –15°C. It will look brighter outside, but the air will still be very cold, and any light wind will keep cheeks stinging.

Wednesday night turns cloudy again with a 40 percent chance of flurries and a low near –22°C. On Thursday, snow returns, with a daytime high near –19°C. This keeps the steady build of snow cover going and maintains that firmly wintry feel across the community.

Thursday night is when the real deep freeze arrives. The forecast calls for cloudy periods with a 60 percent chance of flurries and a low near –33°C. That kind of cold is something Fort Hope knows well, but it always demands respect. At those readings, vehicles struggle, the snow squeaks loudly under boots, and frostbite can become a real concern in just minutes on exposed skin.

Friday keeps things wintry and active, with a 60 percent chance of flurries and a high near –18°C, then a 60 percent chance of snow Friday night and a low near –18°C. On Saturday there is a 40 percent chance of flurries and a high near –15°C, followed by another 60 percent chance of snow Saturday night and a low near –28°C. Sunday continues the trend, with a 40 percent chance of flurries and a high around –21°C.

With this pattern, dressing for the weather in Fort Hope is not optional, it is survival. The best approach is to build layers. Start with a proper base layer, like thermal or fleece tops and bottoms, to hold in body heat. Add a warm mid-layer such as a sweater, hoodie or fleece jacket. On top of that, a heavy insulated winter parka that blocks the wind is essential.

For your legs, wearing insulated pants or snow pants makes a huge difference, especially on the colder nights when temperatures drop into the minus twenties and thirties. Jeans alone will feel cold and stiff quickly in that kind of air. On your feet, insulated winter boots with thick, warm socks are important to keep toes comfortable and prevent frostbite.

A toque that fully covers your ears is a must, as are thick mitts rather than thin gloves. Mitts keep your fingers together and warmer for longer. A scarf or neck warmer that can be pulled up over your mouth and nose will help with wind chill when the wind picks up, particularly on Tuesday and later in the week. For snowmachine travel or longer trips out on the land, goggles or glasses help protect eyes from wind, blowing snow and bitter cold.

One of the defining traits of winter in Fort Hope is the way the snow and cold work together to shape daily life. The same cold that makes door locks freeze and faces tingle also builds solid ice on lakes and rivers, connecting parts of the land that are separated by water in summer. When the snow comes in steady doses, as it is expected to this week, it creates smoother trails and better conditions for travel, hunting and visiting between parts of the community and the surrounding region. In that sense, the storms and the deep freeze are not just challenges; they are also part of how winter in the Far North works and how people move, live and share the season together.

Weather Focus – Last thoughts:
Fort Hope faces light snow and –14°C today, heavier snow Tuesday with 5–10 cm, then a plunge into dangerous cold with lows near –33°C and frostbite risk later this week.