The heavily anticipated spring storm system has touched down in Northwestern Ontario, bringing with it heavy snowfall over the next couple of days.
Environment Canada says from what they can see the bulk of the snow will hit the region throughout the day on Wednesday (April 13, 2022).
“In Kenora in particular it’s looking like 20-35 cm as a two-day total. Most of that is going to be starting later today from the evening into the overnight. Today looks more like 5-10 cm,” said Steven Flisfeder, Environment Canada Meteorologist.
Flisfeder added that the storm is intensifying and the majority of the storm will be making its way eastward to the region later Wednesday afternoon.
“Through tonight it’s going to be 10-20 cm for the Kenora area. Tomorrow it will slowly be shifting eastward and de-intensifying, so totals for Thursday on the lesser side probably around another 5 cm through the day.”
He did say that Thursday night into Friday the storm will dissipate with some flurry activity, and then finally clearing late Friday afternoon.
Right now the Kenora, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout areas are all under a Winter Storm Warning.
Red Lake is going to get the same snowfall amount as Kenora with 20-40 cm projected, but Flisfeder is saying Sioux Lookout is a different story.
“They’re kind of in the transition phase of the storm, so they could have lesser amounts all together just due to some mixing of ice pellets and risk of freezing rain, but still at least 20 cm for Sioux Lookout.”
To make matters worse Flisfeder said the forecasted temperatures are not going to be favourable.
“It’s still going to be colder for Thursday, Friday, and even into Saturday. As the system shifts east and north it’s going to pull cold air down in its wayside. Thursday and Friday's daytime highs are only going to be around minus 3, minus 4 degrees. Overnight lows as cold as minus 10 to minus 12 degrees.”
He added that temperatures on Saturday will improve slightly with a daytime high of around zero with overnight lows below zero.
Environment Canada is advising against traveling over the next couple of days. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways, and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow. Road closures are possible. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone.
Ontario 511 is reporting as of 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday that Highway 17 just west of Vermilion Bay and west of Kenora is snow-covered with “fair visibility”.
Moving into Manitoba near Falcon Lake towards Winnipeg on the TransCanada Highway the road conditions are blowing snow, snow-covered with fair visibility.
The Manitoba RCMP issued a statement on Tuesday night (April 12, 2022), that they will close all major highways in Southeastern Manitoba. On Wednesday morning they said they will continue to assess the highway conditions.
At this time, Highway 75 from Morris to the Canada/U.S. border, and Highway 1 from Elie to Austin are officially closed.
Keep up to date with all weather conditions with the REMR Roofing Storm Tracker.
RCMP says Highway conditions continue to deteriorate with more official closures possible throughout the day.
The Manitoba RCMP urges caution if you must travel and stay off closed highways. The most up-to-date info on highway & road closures is available at: http://manitoba511.ca.