Thunder Bay – Weather Desk – A strong Arctic high is keeping Far North Ontario locked in dangerous cold this morning, with wind chills in the -40s in some communities. Skies are generally clear to mostly cloudy right now, which is good for visibility, but light snow returns tonight and Wednesday, especially in the Big Trout Lake region that influences both Bearskin Lake and Sachigo Lake forecasts.
Today’s Weather Overview
Fort Severn
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Observed: Fort Severn Airport 8:00 AM EDT Tue Mar 17
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Mostly cloudy, -33.5°C
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Pressure: 102.0 kPa
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Humidity: 74%
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Visibility: 16 km
Round Lake (Weagamow Lake)
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Observed: Weagamow Lake 7:00 AM EDT Tue Mar 17
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Not observed (sky condition not reported), -35.8°C
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Pressure: 102.1 kPa (falling)
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Humidity: 70%
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Wind: calm
Neskantaga area (Lansdowne House Airport observation)
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Observed: Lansdowne House Airport 8:00 AM EDT Tue Mar 17
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Clear, -31.0°C
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Wind: W 9 km/h
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Wind chill: -40
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Visibility: 16 km
Bearskin Lake area (Big Trout Lake Airport observation)
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Observed: Big Trout Lake Airport 7:00 AM CDT Tue Mar 17
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Clear, -32.4°C
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Wind: NW 11 km/h
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Wind chill: -43
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Visibility: 16 km
Sachigo Lake area (Big Trout Lake Airport observation)
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Observed: Big Trout Lake Airport 7:00 AM CDT Tue Mar 17
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Clear, -32.4°C
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Wind: NW 11 km/h
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Wind chill: -43
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Visibility: 16 km
Tomorrow’s Forecast
Fort Severn (Wed–Thu)
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Today: Sunny, high -25°C (wind chill -42 this morning; frostbite in minutes)
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Tonight: Clear, low -31°C (wind chill -43 overnight)
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Wed: Mix of sun/cloud with 60% chance of light snow, high -18°C
Round Lake (Weagamow Lake) (Tue night–Thu)
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Today: Sunny, becoming mix sun/cloud, high -11°C (SE gusts up to 40 km/h later)
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Tonight: Periods of snow, local ~2 cm, low -14°C
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Wed: Light snow ending afternoon, high -3°C; Thu: 40% flurries, high -2°C
Neskantaga area (Lansdowne House) (Tue night–Thu)
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Today: Sunny, north wind gusting 50 km/h, high -14°C (frostbite in minutes this morning)
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Tonight: Partly cloudy, low -23°C
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Wed: Periods of snow early, local ~2 cm, high -8°C; Thu: mix sun/cloud, high -5°C
Bearskin Lake and Sachigo Lake area (Tue night–Thu)
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Today: Sunny, becoming mix sun/cloud, high -15°C
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Tonight: Cloudy, snow begins after midnight, low -17°C
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Wed: Periods of snow, high -7°C; Thu: mix sun/cloud, high -5°C
Air Travel and Flight Conditions
What pilots and passengers should expect
Even where skies are clear, extreme cold can slow operations (pre-heating, cold-soaked aircraft, battery/hydraulic performance, longer turnarounds). The bigger weather-driven delay risk arrives tonight into Wednesday as snow develops around Round Lake/Weagamow and the Big Trout Lake region.
Fort Severn (CYER)
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Current METAR shows VFR: 9SM visibility, scattered high cloud, -33°C.
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TAF available, but brief visibility reductions remain possible if light snow develops later.
Neskantaga area (CYLH – Lansdowne House Airport)
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Current METAR is VFR/clear with 9SM visibility and -31°C. (No TAF listed in this feed.)
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Snow is forecast to begin early Wednesday, so watch for visibility drops around the morning push.
Round Lake / Weagamow (CZRJ)
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METAR/TAF availability can be limited for some remote aerodromes; check NAV CANADA briefings and your carrier.
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Nearby reporting airports include Big Trout Lake (CYTL), Muskrat Dam (CZMD), and Sandy Lake (CZSJ)—all showing VFR in the most recent reports, though Sandy Lake has had haze at times (MVFR earlier).
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Periods of snow tonight will increase the risk of delays into Wednesday.
Bearskin Lake (XBE/CNE3)
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No on-site METAR/TAF is commonly available; the nearest aviation weather report and forecast used here is Muskrat Dam (CZMD), which is reporting VFR/clear in the latest observation.
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Regional conditions (via Big Trout Lake) are clear now, but snow develops after midnight.
Sachigo Lake (ZPB/CZPB)
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Some aviation listings indicate no local METAR/TAF at CZPB and advise using Muskrat Dam (CZMD) for aviation weather.
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Regionally (via Big Trout Lake), conditions are clear now, with snow developing after midnight.
Wardrobe Recommendations
This is frostbite weather, especially Fort Severn and the Neskantaga/Lansdowne House area. If you’re heading to the airport or working outdoors:
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Insulated parka, snow pants, winter boots rated for extreme cold
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Mitts (warmer than gloves), face covering, and eye protection in wind
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Keep skin covered—wind chills in the -40 range can become dangerous fast
Weather Trivia
On clear nights in the Far North, temperatures can plunge because snow-covered ground is excellent at radiating heat away. That’s why communities can see clear skies and bitter cold at the same time—great visibility, but harsh conditions for people and equipment.
Weather Overview
Far North Ontario weather update for March 17, 2026 covering Fort Severn, Round Lake (Weagamow), Neskantaga, Bearskin Lake, and Sachigo Lake. Extreme cold with wind chills near -40 in spots, generally clear skies and VFR conditions at reporting airports, then snow returns tonight into Wednesday with potential flight delays and reduced visibility.
