THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – Thunder Bay heads into Thursday evening with a winter-style warning note despite a relatively calm late afternoon.
At 4:00 PM EDT, Thunder Bay Airport was reporting mostly cloudy skies and a temperature of -1.1°C, but Environment Canada had already issued a Special Weather Statement warning that a few hours of heavy snow could bring near 10 cm in some bursts, snowfall rates up to 4 cm per hour, and reduced visibility tonight. Roads and walkways may become difficult to navigate as conditions deteriorate.
Current Conditions
As of 4:00 PM EDT on Thursday, March 19, Thunder Bay Airport was sitting at -1.1°C under mostly cloudy skies. Winds were from the south-southeast at 14 km/h, producing a wind chill of -6. Barometric pressure was 102.0 kPa and falling, humidity was 55 percent, and visibility remained a solid 32 km before the evening snow moved in.
The next several hours are the real concern. Environment Canada’s hourly forecast shows snow with a risk of freezing rain developing around 7:00 PM and continuing through much of the night before easing toward flurries and possible freezing drizzle in the pre-dawn hours Friday. The detailed city forecast calls for about 5 cm of snow in Thunder Bay, while the Special Weather Statement warns that heavier bands could push amounts closer to 10 cm in some areas.
Expected Conditions
Friday, March 20 looks quieter but not especially bright. Thunder Bay is forecast to stay cloudy with a high of 6°C and light winds up to 15 km/h. It will still feel colder early in the day, with a morning wind chill near -8. Friday night turns unsettled again, with light snow beginning before morning, a risk of freezing rain, and a low of -4°C.
Saturday keeps the mixed-bag pattern going, with periods of snow or rain and a high of 1°C. Saturday night cools off to -9°C with a 30 percent chance of flurries. Sunday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 percent chance of flurries and a daytime high of -1°C, followed by cloudy periods and a low of -11°C Sunday night. Early next week looks calmer, with a mix of sun and cloud Monday and a high of 1°C.
Wardrobe Recommendations
Tonight is a full winter outerwear night. A warm coat, insulated boots with traction, gloves, and a hat are the smart basics, especially with snow, slick surfaces, and a risk of freezing rain in the forecast. For Friday, waterproof footwear is still a good idea because melting and refreezing could leave sidewalks messy. By Saturday, dress for a sloppy mix of late-winter snow and near-freezing rain, while Sunday calls for heavier cold-weather layers again as temperatures dip back below seasonal comfort.
Weather Trivia
Here is a useful Thunder Bay weather benchmark: Environment Canada lists the normal high for this date at 2°C and the normal low at -9°C. That means Friday’s forecast high of 6°C is actually a few degrees milder than average for March 20, even though the sky will stay stubbornly grey.
Overall Synopsis
Thunder Bay weather forecast for March 19, 2026: mostly cloudy skies give way to heavy snow tonight, with Environment Canada warning of reduced visibility and snowfall near 10 cm in stronger bursts. Full weekend outlook included.
