Workweek Outlook: Winter storm ushers in the heart of winter

The Sault region will be hit with significant snow early this week, and then cool conditions return.  The cold air seems inevitable because when you evaluate climate records, it can be seen that this coming work week is usually the coldest week of the year. To be exact, January 26 averages out to be the coldest day of the year.  This means that every day after this Friday should trend toward warmer weather and the return of summer.

Snow will start early Monday afternoon and taper off to flurries by early tomorrow morning. 15-25cm of snow is likely across the Sault region with this event. The city and regions to the north are more likely to be closer to 15cm, whereas the higher amounts over 20cm will be east of the city. Daytime highs will be near -2°C with windchills near -7°C.

A few morning flurries on Tuesday will give way to a few breaks in the clouds during the afternoon. Temperatures will be steady near -8°C all day but gusty north winds will make it feel more like -15°C. 

Slightly colder than normal temperatures settle in for the middle of the upcoming workweek with periods of sunshine and daytime highs near -8°C.  Both Wednesday and Thursday should bring some sunshine with near calm conditions.

Ironically, on what is climatologically the coldest day of the year, we will see warmer air return. Friday will see temperatures back up above the freezing mark.  We may even see some light rain in the evening.