Batten down the hatches — winter storm hits Thunder Bay, and more snowfall is expected

A fresh blast of winter weather has hit northwestern Ontario hard, as a major system moves through the region. 

Between 10 and 15 centimetres of snow is expected by Friday morning across the City of Thunder Bay, according to an earlier weather advisory issued by Environment Canada, which has since been lifted.

Areas south of Thunder Bay were expected to see the brunt of the storm system, including the Cloud Bay area, where a winter storm warning has since been lifted.

Easterly wind gusts of 60 to 70 km/h can also be expected, with the strongest winds near the shores of Lake Superior. Visibility is reduced due to the snowfall and local blowing snow. 

Shortly after noon Thursday, Canada Post announced it was suspending delivery services for the day in Thunder Bay and would resume service only once it's safe to do so.

Precipitation expected to continue

Peter Kimbell, a meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, says about five centimetres of snow fell in Thunder Bay within a couple hours this morning.

While temperatures are sitting between 1 C and 2 C in the city, the flurries may change to freezing drizzle. It isn't cold enough for the precipitation to turn to freezing rain, he said.

"This system is not moving away rapidly," said Kimbell. "[It's] going to hover around where it is right now, to the south and over the west, basically over Minnesota and Wisconsin."

"We're going to continue to get precipitation intermittently for the next couple of days." 

Residents should plan to get their shoveling done while it's still relatively mild out. Temperatures are expected to drop over the weekend and become very cold by Monday and Tuesday, he said.

Weather advisories

Weather advisories have been issued for:

• Greater Sudbury and vicinity
• Kirkland Lake - Temiskaming Shores - Temagami
• Manitoulin - Blind River - Killarney
• North Bay - West Nipissing

Highway conditions

There have been several disruptions to traffic across the region reported during the day Thursday. According to Ontario 511:

• A disabled transport truck on Highway 587 northbound at Highways 11 and 17 resulted in a closure of the southbound lane.

• All lanes were closed at Highway 102 in Thunder Bay at Sistonens Corner due to a disabled vehicle.

School closures and bus cancellations

All rural school bus transportation was cancelled Thursday across Lakehead Public Schools, Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board and the French Catholic school board. 

Several Lakehead Public Schools were also closed, including Crestview, Gorham Ware, Kakabeka, Valley Central and Whitefish Valley.

• Scroll through the gallery below to see pictures from the storm Thursday morning