(12:24 p.m. update) Saturday special weather statement

Environment Canada is maintaining the following weather statement for a large part of Northeastern Ontario.

Although Sault Ste. Marie has been spared the brunt of the late winter storm, full weather warnings remain in effect for the Greater Sudbury and vicinity - North Bay - West Nipissing - New Liskeard - Temagami regions.

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Weather Service has cancelled its winter weather advisory for Chippewa and Mackinac counties.

The Environment Canada radar image shown was taken at 12:07 p.m. today.

************************* Special weather statement issued for:

Sault Ste. Marie - Superior East Greater Sudbury and vicinity Kirkland Lake - New Liskeard - Temagami Elliot Lake - Ranger Lake Manitoulin - Northshore - Killarney North Bay - West Nipissing.

Late season heavy snowfall to Northeastern Ontario.

The area of snow associated with an unseasonably strong late season storm over Northern Lake Huron continues to expand this morning as cold Arctic air is drawn in from the north.

Precipitation has changed over to snow over the entire district and enough snow will fall across most of the area to turn the ground white.

The heaviest and most prolonged snow will be in the Sudbury to North Bay to Timiskaming areas where a snowfall warning is in effect with total snowfall amounts near 15 cm expected.

Elsewhere snowfall amounts will be 10 cm or less, but bursts of heavy snow will be enough to whiten the grass and possibly cause local slushy accumulations on roads.

The snow will move out by tonight as this storm centre moves away into Southern Québec and then the Maritimes.

Motorists should be prepared for a return to winter driving conditions due to low visibility in heavy snow and local blowing snow.

Accumulations are possible on untreated roads should the snow be heavy enough.

Environment Canada will continue to monitor this developing situation closely and may issue more warnings as the event draws nearer.

Listen for further statements.

Additional information may also be found by consulting the latest public forecast.

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