Storm warning continues (update)

As of 5:26 PM EST Environment Canada issued the following Winter storm watch for the North Bay - Powassan - Mattawa area.

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..Major winter storm continuing today through tonight..

This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.

A major winter storm centre from Colorado has moved over Lake Michigan. Snow will continue to fall east of Lake Superior to North Bay and as far north as Kapuskasing today. The snow combined with strong easterly winds can produce brief whiteout conditions due to blowing snow.

Some regions along the north shore of Lake Superior already saw as much as 50 centimetres of snow and will see a few more centimetres of snow today before ending tonight. This band of heavy snow is expected to move east of Sault Ste Marie towards North Bay with total snowfall amounts possibly reaching near 30 centimetres in some locales.

Similar amounts of snow are forecast over northeastern Ontario all the way down to the Nickel Belt - Nipissing areas. The snow will continue to be mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain near the north shore of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay this evening.

Note that the exact track of this winter storm is still uncertain and this will affect which areas receive the most snow. If the storm centre travels further south than currently expected than areas near the north shore of Lake Huron including Manitoulin Island may not see a changeover to freezing precipitation and may receive more snow as a result.

Due to near zero visibility at times in heavy snow as well as snowy and icy roads travel will be very dangerous and is not recommended.

Environment Canada is closely monitoring this situation as new information arrives.

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...Major winter storm continuing today..

This is a warning that dangerous winter weather conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.

A major winter storm centre from Colorado has moved over Lake Michigan. Snow will continue to fall east of Lake Superior to North Bay and as far north as Kapuskasing today. The snow combined with strong easterly winds can produce brief whiteout conditions due to blowing snow.

Some regions along the north shore of Lake Superior already saw as much as 50 centimetres of snow and will see a few more centimetres of snow today before ending tonight. This band of heavy snow is expected to move east of Sault Ste Marie towards North Bay with total snowfall amounts possibly reaching near 30 centimetres in some locales.

Similar amounts of snow are forecast over northeastern Ontario all the way down to the Nickel Belt - Nipissing areas. The snow may mix with or change to ice pellets and freezing rain near the north shore of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay this afternoon or this evening.

Over Manitoulin Island which will be closest to the track of the storm centre..Temperatures today may sneak just above freezing causing the snow and freezing precipitation to change over briefly to rain. The rain will ultimately change back to snow as much colder air floods in from the north in the wake of the storm centre tonight.

Note that the exact track of this winter storm is still uncertain and this will affect which areas receive the most snow. If the storm centre travels further south than currently expected than areas near the north shore of Lake Huron including Manitoulin Island may not see a changeover to freezing precipitation and may receive more snow as a result.

Due to near zero visibility at times in heavy snow as well as snowy and icy roads travel will be very dangerous and is not recommended.

Environment Canada is closely monitoring this situation as new information arrives.

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