Environment Canada issued a snow squall watch Dec. 5 at around 3:55 p.m. for Blind River - Thessalon, Espanola - Killarney, and Manitoulin Island.
Snow squalls are expected to develop. Under the snow squall bands, visibility will be significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate.
Conditions will become favourable Wednesday morning for the development of snow squalls from Lake Huron and the North Channel in a cold westerly flow that is expected to develop in the wake of a cold front.
The snow squalls are expected to continue Wednesday into Wednesday night before moving to the south of the regions sometime Thursday as another cold front moves through.
Snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 cm per 12 hours are possible in the strongest snow squalls.
Driving conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly after the lake effect snow develops Wednesday.
Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports to #ONStorm.
