Snow squall watch issued for Sault and area

Environment Canada has issued a snow squall watch for the region, including Sault Ste. Marie, St. Joseph Island, and Searchmont.

Wind gusts of up to 70 km/h are possible and snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 cm are expected by Tuesday.

Full text of the Environment Canada weather alerts follow:

Snow squall watch in effect for:
    •    Sault Ste. Marie - St. Joseph Island
    •    Searchmont - Montreal River Harbour - Batchawana Bay

Conditions are favourable for a period of lake effect snow squalls off Lake Superior.

Hazards:
Heavy snow and local blowing snow due to strong and gusty winds. Wind gusts possibly reaching up to 70 km/h. Snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 cm by Tuesday, with locally higher amounts possible.

When:
Snow squalls are expected to develop early this evening and persist into Tuesday.

Discussion:
Snow squalls will develop in a strong northwesterly flow behind a low pressure system that will exit the Great Lakes.

Impacts:
Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Road closures are possible.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

Snowfall warning in effect for:
    •    Sault Ste. Marie - St. Joseph Island
    •    Searchmont - Montreal River Harbour - Batchawana Bay
    •    Blind River - Thessalon

Heavy snow continues today.

Total snowfall amounts near 15 cm is expected by the time the snow tapers off late this afternoon.

The snow is due to a low pressure system that will track east across the Great Lakes today.

In the wake of the system, snow squalls may develop beginning this evening. Additional snowfall accumulations of up to 15 cm are possible by Tuesday.

Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports using #ONStorm.