THUNDER BAY – WEATHER – Here we go again?! Thunder Bay is heading into the weekend with another messy round of late-March weather on the way.
Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for the city, warning that snow will spread in early Saturday morning and continue into the afternoon, bringing reduced visibility and total snowfall amounts of 5 to 12 cm. There is also a risk of freezing rain along the western shores of Lake Superior Saturday morning, adding another layer of concern for travel and footing.
Current Conditions
Early Friday evening in Thunder Bay was mostly cloudy and relatively mild by March standards. Environment Canada’s latest posted observation from Thunder Bay Airport showed 4°C at 5:00 PM EDT, with a temperature of 3.5°C, humidity at 70 percent, pressure at 101.4 kPa and rising, northwest wind at 15 km/h, and visibility at 32 km. That combination gave the city a calm-looking sky overhead, even as a more disruptive system lined up for Saturday.
Tonight looks quiet compared with what follows. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies becoming cloudy this evening, winds up to 15 km/h, and a low of -3°C, with an overnight wind chill near -7.
Yellow Weather Alert
Expected Conditions
Saturday is the main weather story. Thunder Bay is forecast to see periods of snow mixed with ice pellets, with a risk of freezing rain in the morning and early afternoon. The city forecast calls for 5 to 10 cm of snow and ice pellets, a high near 0°C, and northeast winds increasing to 20 km/h late in the afternoon. Wind chill will make it feel closer to -6 in the morning.
The broader Special Weather Statement is a little more forceful. Environment Canada says total snowfall amounts could reach 5 to 12 cm, with reduced visibility in heavier bursts. The agency also notes that locally higher accumulations are possible north of Lake Superior, and that snow east of Lake Superior may continue into Saturday evening, bringing possible travel delays. Roads and walkways may become difficult to navigate as the snow builds.
Saturday night turns cloudy, with a 40 percent chance of flurries in the evening and after midnight, plus a risk of freezing drizzle. The low drops to -9°C, with a wind chill near -14 overnight. Sunday improves sharply, with sunny skies and a high of 1°C, followed by cloudy periods and a 30 percent chance of flurries Sunday night with a low of -10°C. Monday stays sunny with a high of 2°C before flurries return Monday night and temperatures slide to -6°C.
Wardrobe Recommendations
Saturday is a full winter-gear day. A warm coat, gloves, a hat, and waterproof boots with solid grip are the smart call, especially with snow, ice pellets, and the freezing-rain risk in the forecast. Anyone driving should be ready for changing road conditions through the morning and afternoon, while pedestrians should expect slick sidewalks and slushy patches near intersections and parking lots. Sunday and Monday will look brighter, but cold mornings and overnight lows still call for layers.
Weather Trivia
Thunder Bay’s normal high for this point in March is 2°C, with a normal low of -9°C. That puts Saturday’s forecast high of 0°C a little below normal, while Sunday’s high of 1°C and Monday’s high of 2°C sit much closer to where the season usually lands, even if the weekend begins with a wintry punch.
Weather Overview
Thunder Bay weather forecast for March 20, 2026: Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement warning of 5 to 12 cm of snow Saturday, reduced visibility, and a risk of freezing rain along Lake Superior.
