People in Northwestern Ontario are waking up to a winter wonderland Monday morning, and according to Environment Canada, it doesn’t show signs of stopping.

The agency has issued several weather warnings for the region stretching from the Manitoba border, east to Wawa, Ont.

“Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays,” reads the Environment Canada winter storm warning issued for the city of Thunder Bay.

Heavy snow is expected to continue through the day with peak snowfall rates of two to five centimetres an hour. Many areas of the region are expecting total snow accumulations of 15 to 30 centimetres, according to Environment Canada.

The agency says the storm will taper to light snow or scattered flurries from west to east this evening.

Thunder Bay and Superior West areas are under a winter storm warning as of Monday morning. Meanwhile, northshore areas, Kenora, Atikokan, Dryden and Fort Frances are all under a snowfall warning.

Environment Canada said for areas under a snowfall warning, additional amounts of five centimetres are expected.

As for the rest of the region, a weather advisory has been issued for Greenstone, along with Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Savant Lake areas.

Monday’s winter weather has also resulted in a number of school bus cancellations and school closures today.

Snow clearing underway

Gillies Township has officially declared a significant weather event. The rural township outside of Thunder Bay said the declaration has been made as the municipality may not be able to meet maintenance standards for roads due to significant snowfall.

Officials with the City of Thunder Bay said winter maintenance crews began plowing at 2 a.m. Monday, focusing on arterial, collector and transit roadways and sidewalks. In a post on social media, the city said residential street plowing will be initiated once the snow has stopped and all priority routes are done.

Over the weekend, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) issued reminders for drivers as the threat of a winter storm loomed. 

Police are urging people to slow down, and adjust their driving according to road conditions. 

Information about road closures and delays in the region can be found on the Ministry of Transportation website.

Public Safety Canada is encouraging people to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.