THUNDER BAY — Environment Canada has updated its information on a significant winter storm expected to rock the city on Wednesday and a meteorologist says the snowfall could be record-breaking.
On Tuesday, the national weather office upgraded an existing winter storm watch to a warning, meaning the storm is imminent. In its advisory, officials said the snow, which will be heavy at times, is expected to begin Wednesday morning and is now forecast to bring between 20 and 40 centimetres.
Up to 20 centimetres could fall in the daytime, with between 10 and 20 more at night.
Meteorologist Trudy Kidd said the single-day record for an April 2 snowfall in Thunder Bay was set back in 1994 when 17.4 centimetres fell. The most snow in a day in the month of April fell on April 6, 1956, with 24.1 centimetres falling.
“We are expecting snow and lots of it,” she said. “It's very un-April like, but that's kind of the way April can be — very temperamental, I suppose.”
Kidd did caution that record keeping for Thunder Bay is “challenging,” as the climate station used to record data “has moved around a whole lot.”
“It still goes to show that 20 to 30 centimetres for April 2nd is a noteworthy (storm).”
At its peak, the storm could dump three to five centimetres of snow per hour. Additionally, forecasters are now predicting easterly winds gusting from 50 to 70 kilometres per hour, causing reduced visibility in heavy snow conditions along with blowing snow.
The initial winter storm watch had wind gusts topping out at 60 kilometres per hour.
Environment Canada said the winds should ease Wednesday night, with the snow tapering off to flurries early Thursday morning.
The warning bulletin advised people to consider postponing non-essential travel, as reduced visibility and rapidly-falling snow will make travel difficult.
“It's going to be a lot of snow accumulating on roadways and sidewalks pretty rapidly and also with the reduced visibility with the heavy snow and it blowing all over the place, it makes travel difficult,” Kidd said.
“So, if you can avoid it, it's a great idea; if not, then take your time when you're out there, give yourself lots of space between you and the vehicle in front of you and just plan in advance.”
The winter storm warning not only includes the city of Thunder Bay proper, but extends about as far west as Kaministiquia and Hurkett to the east. Much of the rest of the southern part of the Northwest was under a snowfall warning as of Tuesday afternoon, with expected accumulations of 15 to 20 centimetres.
