Weather alerts due to snow squalls continue for third day in the northeast

The lake effect snow is continuing to create weather alerts in northeastern Ontario for the third day in a row and some have been extended to Thursday.

Snow squall warnings and winter weather travel advisories are in effect Wednesday for communities near the Great Lakes and Lake Nipissing.

Weather alert map (red-snow squall warning and grey - winter weather travel advisory) as of 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17/24 (Environment Canada)

Heavy and blowing snow will create more hazardous travel conditions.

"Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop," in a weather alert.

SUPERIOR EAST

North of Sault Ste. Marie, snow squalls started back up early Wednesday morning and will continue through Thursday morning, Environment Canada said.

"Snow squalls are expected to move into the area early this morning and will be located mainly between Batchawana Bay and Montreal River Harbour. Snow squalls will drift south into Searchmont later this evening," the snow squall warning said Wednesday.

"Local snowfall accumulations of 20 to 40 cm."

Weather alerts (Blue - snow squall warnings) for northeastern Ontario as of 4 p.m. Jan. 17/24 (Iselle Slome/CTV Northern Ontario)

Quickly deteriorating road conditions could prompt road closures.

"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve," Environment Canada said.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday, Environment Canada announced a snow squall watch was in effect for Sault Ste. Marie and St. Joseph Island.

Snow squalls are expected to begin late Wednesday afternoon and continue into Thursday morning with local snowfall totals of near 15 cm.

"Snow squalls are expected to move south into the area late this afternoon and will continue into Thursday morning," the weather alert said.

MANITOULIN ISLAND

Another snow squall warning is in effect for the island with 20 to 30 cm of more snow expected by Thursday morning.

ESPANOLA-KILLARNEY

Snow squall warning in effect and Environment Canada is forecasting 10 to 15 cm of more snow by late Wednesday afternoon.

"Snow squalls will continue to affect portions of the region this morning and will shift south out of the area late this afternoon," the weather alert said Wednesday.

GEORGIAN BAY

Communities east of Georgian Bay are also under weather warnings for a third day due to intense snow squalls.

The snow squalls are expected to shift south and out of the region Wednesday evening.

In the Bayfield Inlet and Dunchurch areas, 10 to 15 cm of snow is expected with peak snowfall rates of two to four cm/h possible.

Further south in the Parry Sound area and east to Huntsville, total snowfall of 20 to 40 cm is expected by early Thursday morning with peak snowfall rates of more than five cm/h possible, Environment Canada said.

The system will not move out of the Parry Sound/Rosseau/Killbear Park area until Thursday morning as it continues to move south.

Even higher amounts of snow are expected in the Port Carling and Port Severn areas and east to Bracebridge and Gravenhurst with 25 to 50 cm being forecasted by Thursday morning, where a winter weather travel advisory is in effect.

Snow squalls in these communities are expected to start back up around noon following flurries Wednesday morning.

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In the Midland/Coldwater/Orr Lake areas, 15 to 20 cm of snow is expected through Thursday with snow squalls beginning later Wednesday afternoon as well.

FRENCH RIVER – WEST NIPISSING

Snow squall warnings are in effect for the West Nipissing and French River areas which are expected to get 10 to 15 cm of snow Wednesday.

"Snow squalls will continue to affect portions of the region this morning and will shift south out of the area late this afternoon," the weather alert said.

LAKE NIPISSING

Winter weather travel advisories are in effect for North Bay, Powassan and Mattawa on Wednesday as well due to lake-effect snow.

The snow continues throughout the morning and is expected to taper off late Wednesday afternoon as the weather system moves south.

Five to 10 cm of more snow is expected for Jan. 17.

Heavy and blowing snow will affect visibility in this area.

NORTH CHANNEL

Winter weather travel advisories have ended Wednesday afternoon along the north shore of Lake Huron for the communities of Blind River and Thessalon on Highway 17 east of Sault Ste. Marie.

"Additional local snowfall accumulation of 5 cm possible," the weather alert said Wednesday morning.

"Lake effect snow will taper off to flurries later this morning."