'It's a big one': Parts of northwestern Ont., could be in for a record breaking snowstorm Wednesday

Olivia Levesque · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 01, 2025 1:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Environment Canada has issued a wintertime tempest informing for the metropolis of Thunder Bay and surrounding areas, arsenic 30 centimetres of snowfall and beardown upwind gusts are expected Wednesday.

The bureau began issuing upwind statements yesterday evening, but those alerts person present been upgraded to warnings.

"It is emblematic to spot snowfall successful April. Usually we spot astir 12.4 centimetres, truthful this volition beryllium much than what we're utilized to successful April and could adjacent beryllium record-breaking. Our grounds snowfall magnitude for April 2nd is 17.4 centimetres, acceptable successful 1994," explained Trudy Kidd, meteorologist with Environment Canada.

"It's a large one," she added.

The heaviest snowfall is expected Wednesday day into the evening. Easterly winds gusting 50 to 70 kilometres per hr volition effect successful blowing snow, peculiarly adjacent Lake Superior.

The bureau said the snowfall is expected to taper by Thursday morning.

"We're expecting a full batch of snow. And not lone that, but we'll besides person immoderate beauteous gusty winds blowing it each around, making question truly frustrating … So not a precise spring-like time by immoderate means," said Kidd.

A snowfall informing has besides been issued for overmuch of the northwestern region. Atikokan, Fort Frances, Kenora, and Red Lake are expecting 10 to 20 centimetres of snowfall opening Wednesday.

Areas eastbound of Thunder Bay are besides expecting astir 20 centimetres of snowfall Wednesday afternoon. A snowfall informing has besides been issued for Greenstone and northshore areas.

The northwest, and overmuch of Ontario, has experienced a roller coaster of upwind successful the archetypal fewer weeks of spring.

Two snowstorms covered parts of the northwest past week, portion an crystal tempest touched down successful confederate parts of the province.

As of Tuesday morning, Hydro One is reporting astir 34,000 customers stay without powerfulness successful eastbound Ontario. Most customers successful the Tweed country are inactive out.

Despite these upwind events, Kidd says the northwest has really experienced beauteous mean conditions successful the period of March.

Kidd says mean temperatures successful March were astir a grade warmer than the seasonal norm. As for precipitation, Thunder Bay was really dryer than accustomed successful March.