NetNewsLedger Weather – Wawa & Lake Superior North Shore
Thunder Bay – WEATHER – Wawa and the Highway 17 corridor along the north shore of Lake Superior are locked in a full-on winter battle this morning, as snow squalls continue to pound the region.
Highway Closure: UPDATE (6:30 a.m.): Highway 17 closure has extended to White River from Batchewana, through Wawa. OPP is continuing to monitor road conditions and visibility. Updates to be provided as information becomes available.
At 7:00 AM EST, conditions at Wawa Airport were reported as snow and drifting snow, with the temperature at –3.1°C but feeling closer to –9°C in a south-southwest wind of 18 km/h, gusting to 39 km/h. Humidity is very high at 93 percent, the dew point sits at –4.1°C, and visibility has been cut to just 0.4 kilometres — a clear sign of just how intense the blowing and drifting snow is. The barometric pressure is 100.5 kPa and falling, confirming that the atmosphere is still very unstable over Lake Superior.
Environment Canada has issued a Snow Squall Warning for the Wawa – Pukaskwa Park region, with an Impact Level of Moderate and Forecast Confidence High. Lake-effect snow squalls are expected to bring 10 to 20 centimetres of snow, with locally higher amounts possible where the strongest bands set up. Combined with southwest winds gusting up to 50 km/h, the result is local blowing snow, whiteouts, and extremely hazardous travel, particularly along Highway 17 and Highway 101. Drivers may encounter conditions that change from “manageable” to “near zero visibility” in seconds.
Through today, those flurries and snow squalls are expected to continue this morning before easing off this afternoon. Local new snowfall of around 10 cm is likely before the bands weaken. Winds from the southwest at 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, will gradually diminish by around midday, but not before helping to push and pile the snow into drifts, especially in open stretches and higher terrain.
The daytime high will be near –4°C, with a wind chill of about –13°C this morning, moderating to around –6°C this afternoon as winds lighten.
Tonight, skies remain cloudy with a 40 percent chance of flurries, but the organized squall bands should be gone. Winds will swing around to the northeast at 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h later this evening, and the temperature will drop to about –10°C. The wind chill will feel near –11°C this evening and fall to about –16°C overnight, which will keep sidewalks and untreated surfaces icy and drivers on alert.
On Wednesday, conditions improve significantly. The forecast calls for a mix of sun and cloud and much calmer weather, with winds light, up to 15 km/h. The temperature will hold steady near –10°C, with a wind chill near –18°C, still cold but far less chaotic than today. Wednesday night brings cloudy periods and a low near –13°C, a typical mid-December night along the north shore.
Looking further ahead, Thursday continues with a mix of sun and cloud and a high of –8°C, followed by a 30 percent chance of flurries Thursday night and a low around –12°C. Friday and into the weekend, the pattern stays wintry but less extreme: on-and-off flurries, daytime highs near –8 to –11°C, and nighttime lows dropping into the minus mid-teens. While this doesn’t match the intensity of today’s snow squalls, it does mean a persistent snowpack and continued winter driving conditions.
For anyone heading out today — especially if you must travel along Highway 17 — winter preparation is critical. Consider delaying non-essential travel until squall bands ease this afternoon. If you absolutely need to be on the road, make sure your vehicle is equipped with winter tires, a full tank of gas, an emergency kit with blankets, booster cables, snacks, and a phone charger, and be prepared for conditions that can shift from drivable to dangerous very quickly.
When it comes to dressing for this kind of day, think storm armour, not casual winter wear. A proper insulated parka with a hood, snow pants, and insulated boots are the starting point. Add a warm toque, thick mitts, and a scarf or neck warmer that you can pull up over your nose and cheeks.
With blowing snow and gusty winds, eye protection — like sunglasses or snow goggles — can make walking or shovelling much more comfortable. Even though the air temperature is just a few degrees below zero, the combination of wind, wet snow, and blowing conditions means you will feel much colder than the thermometer suggests.
For a bit of north-shore weather trivia: the stretch from Wawa to Pukaskwa Park is one of Ontario’s classic snow belt zones, thanks to Lake Superior. When cold air sweeps over the comparatively warmer open water, it picks up moisture and dumps it as snow in narrow, intense bands. That’s why one town along the highway can be buried in 20 centimetres of snow while another just a short drive away sees only a few flurries. If you live here long enough, you learn that in winter, the lake calls the shots.
Last Word on the Weather:
Snow squalls continue near Wawa and along Highway 17 with 10–20 cm of snow, whiteouts and hazardous travel today. Conditions improve this afternoon and Wednesday.
Keep 511on.ca in your highway travel plans.
