It's official - snowsquall warning - 15 to 25 cm possible

The following snowsquall warning has been issued by Environment Canada for Searchmont - Montreal River Harbour - Batchawana Bay - Agawa - Lake Superior Park - Elliot Lake - Ranger Lake - Chapleau - Missinaibi Lake.

The U.S. National Weather Service is calling for a brief period of snow tonight in the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula and adjacent waters of Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan, combined with gale force winds.

************************* Local snow squalls and whiteouts near Kenora.

Snow squalls also developing east of Lake Superior.

An unstable Arctic airmass crossing the upper Great Lakes is producing favourable conditions for heavy lake effect flurries and snow squalls.

Two primary areas will be affected: one currently near Kenora and the other developing along the eastern shores of Lake Superior.

Near Kenora, a nearly stationary snow squall extending all the way from Lake Winnipeg to Kenora is producing locally heavy snow and whiteout conditions.

As of 2 p.m. this afternoon, Kenora airport has received 10 centimetres of snow from this squall.

This squall will slowly shift southward and weaken by early this evening but not before producing local snowfall amounts up to 20 centimetres.

East of Lake Superior, heavy flurries and snow squalls will develop over regions between Wawa and Batchawana Bay this evening.

Once they develop, a strong westerly flow will push these squalls well inland affecting portions of Southern Chapleau and Northern Elliot Lake - Ranger Lake.

It appears Elliot Lake will escape any heavier snow as the squall will remain well to their north.

There is potential for localized snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres with the highest amounts more likely over the higher terrain inland from the lake.

Additionally strong winds of 40 km/h gusting to 70 km/h will produce whiteout conditions with near-zero visibility at times in snow and blowing snow.

Motorists travelling in all warned areas are advised that heavy snow bursts associated with these squalls will produce frequent whiteouts and dangerous driving conditions.

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