Heading into the First Weekend of the New Year – A Warming Trend
Friday, January 2, 2026 (Morning Update)
Thunder Bay – WEATHER DESK – As we work into the first Friday of 2026, cold Arctic air mass continues to dominate Northwestern Ontario today, bringing bright skies but dangerous wind chills in the -30 range this morning across much of the region.
Winds are generally west to northwest, and while sunshine helps visibility, it does not ease the bite of the cold. A weak system slides through tonight into Saturday, bringing increasing cloud and periods of snow, with most areas looking at light accumulations (generally 2–4 cm)before a return to colder, clearer conditions Saturday night. Frostbite remains a concern, especially during the morning hours and during any windier periods.
Kenora & Lake of the Woods Region
Kenora starts the day clear and very cold near -24°C, with a wind chill near -33. Today stays sunny, warming to about -16°C, but wind chills remain harsh this morning (near -34) before easing this afternoon. Clouds thicken this evening, and periods of snow begin after midnight, continuing into Saturday with about 2–4 cm, then tapering near noon. Cold air holds firm behind the snow, with overnight lows returning to the low -20s.
Dryden & Vermilion Bay
Dryden begins Friday around -25°C with a very sharp wind chill near -37 thanks to a stronger west wind early. Sunshine dominates today with a high near -16°C, but there’s still frostbite risk this morning. Like Kenora, cloud increases tonight and snow develops after midnight, with 2–4 cm expected Saturday morning before easing near noon. Saturday night turns clear and cold again, dropping back into the -20s.
Sioux Lookout
Sioux Lookout also starts clear and near -24°C, with wind chills around -32 early. Winds pick up (westerly gusts), keeping wind chills dangerous through the morning, then easing slightly this afternoon as temperatures climb toward -17°C. Snow returns on a similar schedule—periods of snow after midnight, lasting into Saturday morning with 2–4 cm, then ending near noon. Saturday night clears with temperatures falling back toward the -20s.
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is clear near -20°C this morning with a wind chill near -30. Today stays sunny, reaching about -13°C, but west winds gusting higher at times keep the cold feeling intense (wind chills near -31 this morning). Tonight brings increasing cloud and a chance of flurries, then Saturday turns more active with periods of snow (2–4 cm). Behind the snow, Saturday night clears and temperatures fall sharply again, with lows near the low -20s.
Bottom line for the region:
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Today: Bright, cold, and windy at times → wind chills in the -30s this morning
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Tonight into Saturday: Snow returns (generally light, 2–4 cm)
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Saturday night: Clearing and colder again
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Main hazard: Frostbite risk, especially during morning wind chills and during outdoor stops/travel
