Sault braces for massive winter storm; timeline what to expect

December 28, 2015

DEC-29-SATELITTE — Monday afternoon satellite image shows the Texas Low approaching the Great Lakes. The brunt of the storm to be felt here with 35cm possible in areas and blowing and drifting snow.

Courtesy AccuWeather. This map for the Period of January 6 to 10th shows a more typical winter weather pattern setting up.

We all knew it was going to come to an end eventually and today is the day. The warm weather caused by a very strong El Nino this fall and early winter means grass instead of snow, plus temperatures instead of subzero and a lot less of shoveling. That will change by Tomorrow.

A very wet and slow moving system, known as a Texas Low is well on it’s way to hit the Sault late Monday and when it arrives it will stick around for about 24 hours. The call right now is about 20 cm in the city and about 35cm north and east of the city. As this moisture laden storm pushes into a colder air mass, the heavy rain showers associated with it will turn to snow very quickly. Freezing rain and ice pellets are also part of the ingredients of this storm though ice and pellets are more likely going to hit southern Ontario and lower Michigan.

This storm is considered dangerous due to the near zero visibility expected from blowing snow during the overnight and early morning.

Here’s a time line based on data from the National Weather Service and what you can expect in the next 24 hours.

Winds picking up from the east

9PM Periods of snow 2cm

10PM – Heavy snow 2cm

11PM- Heavy snow 3cm

3AM – 7AM Heavy snow 10cm

11AM Tuesday – Gradual Clearing, windy.

Winds cause blowing snow and drifting overnight into Tuesday afternoon.

Total accumulation expected in Sault Ste. Marie by Tuesday afternoon 20cm – though more is possible in localized areas from blowing and drifting snow.

Cold temperatures settle in once the storm system tracks North East.