NetNewsLedger Weather Desk – Sioux Lookout

Thunder Bay – WEATHER DESK – Sioux Lookout is starting Monday under a soft cover of light snow and steady cloud, with a messy mix of ice pellets and snow on the way and a sharp return to deep cold later in the week.

At 4:00 AM CST, conditions at Sioux Lookout Airport showed light snow and a temperature of –14.0°C, with a west-southwest wind near 7 km/h making it feel more like –19°C in the wind chill.

The humidity sits at 75 percent, with a dew point of –17.4°C, and visibility is a clear 24 kilometres despite the light snow. The barometric pressure is 101.6 kPa and falling, a sign that the atmosphere is getting ready for a more active pattern tonight and Tuesday, including ice pellets and the risk of freezing drizzle.

For mid-December, Sioux Lookout is right in its winter wheelhouse: daytime highs in the minus teens and overnight lows in the minus twenties are common. Today’s sweater weather setup lines up well with a typical northwestern Ontario December – just with a bit of extra “fun” thrown in courtesy of that icy mix.

Through today, skies will remain cloudy, with about a 40 percent chance of flurries this morning. Winds will stay fairly light, up to 15 km/h, and the afternoon high will reach near –12°C. The wind chill this morning will feel closer to –22°C, easing to around –15°C this afternoon, so it’ll still feel brisk even without strong winds. The UV index is low, but the cloud and fresh snow will be more of a factor for visibility and traction than sun glare.

Tonight, the weather turns more complicated. The forecast calls for cloudy skies with periods of ice pellets or snow beginning overnight. As warmer air rides up over the cold surface layer, it creates the perfect recipe for mixed precipitation. Winds will swing around and strengthen, becoming south 20 km/h gusting to 40 km/h late this evening. The low will drop to about –17°C, but with that gusty wind, the wind chill will be near –28°C this evening, raising the risk of frostbite for anyone out for long, especially without proper winter clothing.

On Tuesday, those periods of ice pellets or snow will continue, changing to flurries in the afternoon. The forecast also includes a risk of freezing drizzle in the morning and early afternoon, which is one of the more treacherous types of winter weather: it can coat roads, sidewalks, steps and parking lots in an almost invisible layer of ice. Snow and ice pellet amounts are expected to be around 2 centimetres, so it’s not a huge accumulation event, but the slippery factor is high.

Winds will remain strong from the south at about 30 km/h, pushing in milder air. The high is expected to reach around 0°C, a big jump from this morning’s –14°C. It will still feel close to –17°C in the morning wind chill, but by afternoon the air will feel noticeably less harsh, even as surfaces become slicker.

Tuesday night will stay cloudy with a 70 percent chance of flurries and a low near –20°C, quickly refreezing any slush or wet patches from the day and setting the stage for icy conditions by Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday, Sioux Lookout gets a bit of a visual break with a mix of sun and cloud and a 30 percent chance of flurries, with a high near –10°C. It will feel more “normally” wintry again – cold, but not extreme, and likely less mixed-precipitation trickery than Tuesday.

Wednesday night brings periods of snow and a low near –15°C, topping up the snowpack. Thursday keeps the pattern going with a 60 percent chance of flurries and a high near –16°C, followed by a clear and very cold Thursday night with a low around –30°C.

Friday offers a 30 percent chance of flurries and a high near –13°C, then periods of snow Friday night with a low near –16°C. On Saturday, flurries continue with a high near –16°C, and a 40 percent chance of flurries Saturday nightwith a low near –27°C. Sunday stays wintry, with a 30 percent chance of flurries and a high around –18°C.

In short, Sioux Lookout is in for a slippery start to the week, a quick flirt with 0°C, and then a slide back into deep cold with more snow and flurries.

When it comes to clothing, this is a week to think in layers, especially with wind chills dipping into the –20s and nighttime lows heading toward –30°C later on. A thermal or fleece base layer, a warm mid-layer like a sweater or hoodie, and a proper insulated winter jacket will go a long way. On your legs, lined pants or snow pants are a smart choice if you’re out walking, shovelling, or working outdoors.

For your feet, insulated winter boots and thick socks are key, particularly with the risk of freezing drizzle and ice pellets making surfaces slick and cold. A toque that covers your ears, thick mitts instead of thin gloves, and a scarf or neck warmer that can be pulled over your nose and mouth will help fight off wind chill and frostbite. With Tuesday’s icy mix, good tread on your boots (or traction aids if you have them) will be just as important as staying warm.

One of the trademarks of winter in Sioux Lookout is just how quickly things can change. In a couple of days, the community can swing from light snow and –14°C to a slippery 0°C with freezing drizzle, then right back into –20s with crunchy snow underfoot. It keeps plow crews busy, drivers on their toes, and everyone checking the forecast just a little more often – which is exactly where the Weather Desk comes in.

The Last Word on Monday’s Weather:
Sioux Lookout sees flurries and –12°C today, then a messy mix of ice pellets, snow and freezing drizzle Tuesday with 0°C before a sharp return to deep cold and flurries.