Snow squall watch for the region in effect

As of 7:07AM Wednesday Environment Canada issued a Snow squall watch for North Bay - Powassan - Mattawa and West Nipissing - French River.

Brief snow squalls with very low visibility possible today.

A sharp Arctic cold front blasting east across Northern Ontario has flurries associated with it as it moves through. There is the potential for a strong, but brief snow squall to develop near the front as it moves through. The front will affect areas north of Lake Superior this morning, then move across Northeastern Ontario this afternoon, reaching the Nickel Belt and Nipissing regions this evening.

The snow squall associated with the cold front may dump 2 to 4 cm of snow in an hour or less as it moves through, along with sudden very low visibilities of a couple hundred metres or less. Blowing snow from strong and gusty winds in the snow squall may also result in sudden very low to almost nil visibility.

Snow squalls may be a bit longer lived and more intense in the regions near Lake Superior extending from near Pukaskwa through Wawa to Sault Ste Marie with up to 10 cm of snow possible.

Motorists should be prepared for sudden very low to nil visibility in bursts of heavy snow and blowing snow as the snow squall moves through, resulting in hazardous winter driving conditions.

Temperatures in the wake of the cold front will plunge quite dramatically from a few degrees below the zero degree mark to minus 20 or below in many areas by tonight.

Environment Canada is closely monitoring this situation. Snow squall warnings may be issued as required. Wind chill warnings may also be required for northeastern regions tonight as well.