A winter storm in southern and eastern Ontario is moving northward, leading Environment Canada to issue various weather warnings for northeastern Ontario. The warnings include winter storm alerts, snowfall advisories, and freezing rain cautions spanning from Parry Sound to Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie to Mattawa.
Due to these conditions, numerous school bus routes are canceled on Wednesday, affecting areas from Massey to Mattawa, including Espanola, Manitoulin Island, Sudbury, North Bay, Parry Sound, Temagami, Cochrane, Timmins, and Chapleau. Although buses are canceled, schools remain open.
According to Ontario’s 511 service, there are no reported highway closures, but road conditions vary from partially snow-covered to completely snow-covered with reduced visibility in some areas.
Meteorologist Eric Tomlinson from Environment Canada described the weather outlook as complex. He mentioned that areas like Sudbury and North Bay could experience a mix of snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain during the storm, while further north, heavier snowfall is expected.
The region from Sault Ste. Marie to Cochrane and extending eastward towards the Quebec border is currently under a snowfall warning as of 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Environment Canada forecasts up to 20 centimeters of snowfall in that area, accompanied by the possibility of local blowing snow. The agency advised residents to prepare for rapidly changing and deteriorating travel conditions, urging drivers to use caution, turn on lights, reduce speed, and maintain safe distances while on the road.