Thunder Bay – Roads Report – Travel on Thursday and Friday from Thunder Bay to Toronto will present some challenges.

There is snow and blowing snow.

Route: Hwy 17 (Thunder Bay → Nipigon → Terrace Bay → Wawa → Sault Ste. Marie → Sudbury → Toronto)
Plus Hwy 11 highlights: Geraldton, Timmins (and onward toward North Bay/Toronto)

Big picture (Thu Feb 26 into Fri Feb 27)

• Today (Thu): Light-to-steady snow along much of Northern Ontario, especially the Lake Superior shoreline and near Sudbury/North Bay.

• Friday: A windy changeover west of the Soo (Thunder Bay to Wawa) with gusts up to ~60–70 km/h and fresh snow—blowing snow risk and fast-changing visibility.

• Further south (Toronto): Flurries end today, then milder Friday (+5°C) with a chance of rain showers or flurries Friday night.

Highway 17: Thunder Bay → Nipigon → Terrace Bay → Wawa

Thunder Bay (Hwy 11/17 start):

• Thu: Periods of snow ~2 cm, high -5°C.

• Thu night: Light snow ends this evening, then cloudy; flurries before morning (~2 cm), low -12°C.

• Fri: Flurries/rain showers mix possible; west winds gusting up to 70 km/h; high +3°C.

Nipigon / Rossport area:

• Thu: Periods of snow ~2 cm, high -6°C.

• Fri: Flurries ~5 cm with wind shift to NW gusting ~70 km/h; local blowing snow possible later/overnight.

Terrace Bay:

• Thu: Periods of snow ~2 cm, high -6°C.

• Fri: Flurries ~5 cm, wind becoming NW gusting ~70 km/h; local blowing snow risk (especially exposed stretches).

Wawa:

• Thu: Periods of snow 2–4 cm, high -7°C.

• Thu night: Periods of snow end overnight; ~2 cm, then 30% flurries, low -11°C.

• Fri: Flurries developing; local ~5 cm, winds gusting ~60 km/h, then periods of snow + local blowing snowovernight; low -19°C.

Travel impact callout (Hwy 17 North Shore Thu–Fri):
Expect the most difficult driving Friday (late morning through evening) from Nipigon through Terrace Bay to Wawadue to fresh snow + strong gusts (blowing/drifting snow and sudden visibility drops).

Highway 17: Wawa → Sault Ste. Marie → Sudbury

Sault Ste. Marie:

• Thu: Flurries early, then snow near noon, 2–4 cm, high -5°C.

• Fri: Flurries in the morning; flurries + rain showers late afternoon, snowfall ~2 cm; winds gusting ~60 km/hlater; high +3°C.

Sudbury (Hwy 17 / Hwy 69 junction):

• Thu: Mainly cloudy with 60% chance of snow, high -7°C.

• Thu night: Periods of snow ~2 cm, low -10°C.

• Fri: 60% chance of flurries (afternoon); winds gusting ~50 km/h; high +1°C.

Sudbury → Toronto (Hwy 69 / 400 corridor + GTA)

Toronto:

• Thu: A few flurries ending this morning; mix of sun/cloud; high -1°C.

• Thu night: 30% chance of flurries; low -5°C.

• Fri: Cloudy then mix of sun/cloud; high +5°C. Fri night: 30% chance of rain showers or flurries, windy; low +1°C.

Highway 11 inland option (key points requested)

Geraldton (Hwy 11):

• Thu: Periods of snow; high -9°C.

• Fri: ~5 cm with winds shifting and gusting up to ~70 km/h; local blowing snow possible; high 0°C.

Timmins (Hwy 11):

• Thu: Periods of light snow; high -10°C.

• Fri: 60% chance of flurries (afternoon) with south wind gusting ~50 km/h; high 0°C. Fri night: periods of snow with local blowing snow; low -17°C.

If continuing south via Hwy 11 toward North Bay:

• North Bay: Thu: 60% chance of snow (high -7°C) and ~2 cm overnight; Fri: snow ends in the morning then 60% chance of flurries/rain showers later; high +2°C.

Quick driver checklist for Thu–Fri

• Expect slippery sections + reduced visibility in snow bands.

• Friday gusts (60–70 km/h) can make open stretches dangerous (blowing snow/drifts).

• Before you roll: check Environment Canada alerts and Ontario 511 for closures/plows and rapidly changing conditions.