Winter has snow business coming early (Updates highway closures)

It hardly seems fair, but Old Man Winter appears to have made a premature appearance this year in North Bay, with his calling card having arrived early Tuesday morning.
Traffic problems galore have been reported during the day, but the Ontario Provincial Police says all highways in the North Bay and North East Ontario region are now open.

Baytoday.ca will be following this apparent change of weather as the day goes on, but here's the Environment Canada forecast in the meantime:

............................................................

North Bay: Issued 1:30 PM est Tuesday 4 November 2003
Today .. Snow changing to freezing rain this afternoon. Wind east 30 km/h gusting to 50. Temperature steady near minus 2.
Tonight .. Freezing rain changing to periods of rain this evening. Risk of a thunderstorm late this evening. Wind east 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming southwest 30 overnight. Temperature rising to 7 by morning.
Wednesday .. Cloudy with sunny periods. 60 percent chance of rain in the morning. Fog patches dissipating in the morning. Wind southwest 20 km/h. Temperature falling to 3 in the evening.
Thursday .. Cloudy. 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 5. High plus 1.
Friday .. Periods of light snow. Low minus 9. High minus 4.
Saturday .. A mix of sun and cloud. 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 6. High zero.
Normals for the period .. Low minus 1. High 6.

WEATHER CAUSING HAVOC ON AREA ROADS
Here is a news released issued 8:36 a.m.today by the Ontario Provincial Police:
************************************************************
(North Bay, ON): At this hour (8:15 a.m.) OPP North Bay and the North East Region Traffic and Marine Unit are investigating a rash of motor vehicle collisions in the North Bay, Powassan and Mattawa detachments.

Police are currently investigating 10 motor vehicle collisions on area Highways and roads. Our first snow fall of the year is causing roadways to be slippery as snow is accumulating. Please use extra caution if you have to drive anywhere today.

If you need to find out road conditions, please do not call the police; please call the winter road condition line from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). The local number for North Bay and Sudbury is 1-800-461-9523; and for the rest of Ontario, please call 1-800-268-4686