Sudbury Daystarter: News, weather and roads info for Thursday

WEATHER 

Special weather statement for Fort Albany and Attawapiskat.
A snowstorm with heavy snow at times is expected with brisk northerly winds. Snow accumulation in excess of 15 cm possible Friday into Saturday.

Winter storm watch for Geraldton and Longlac.
15 to 25 cm of snow and blowing snow along with freezing rain is expected Thursday night into Saturday morning. 

TODAY: Manitoulin Island, Sudbury, North Bay and the Temiskaming region can expect a mix of sun and cloud. The rest of northeastern Ontario will be mainly cloudy. Highs from 7 C to 12 C.

TONIGHT: Rain is expected to develop over western regions. Lows from 10 C down to 0 C. Along James Bay lows from -1 C down to -5 C.

TOMORROW:  Wawa can expect rain with the risk of freezing rain and a high of 1 C. Hearst, Kapuskasing and Smooth Rock Falls will get snow possibly mixed with ice pellets and high of 2. For Timmins there's a 70 per cent chance of rain with a high of 6. Southern regions can expect a mix of sun and cloud with increasing cloud for Sault Ste. Marie. Temperatures from 12 C to 15 C. Along James Bay snow is expected with highs from -3 C up to 0 C.

NEWS

HOSPITAL WAIT TIMES: Patients in Sudbury and across the province are spending a lot less time waiting to see an emergency room doctor. A new report out this week shows across Ontario, 9 out of 10 patients are assessed by a physician within three hours. At Health Sciences North in Sudbury, it's actually 2.7 hours.

TOURISM:  The strong Canadian dollar and good weather were both helpful in bringing more tourists to Sudbury this summer. That's according to the city's Manager of Tourism and Culture, Meredith Armstrong. She was at the Northern Ontario Tourism summit held this week in Sudbury. Armstrong says the majority of visitors to Sudbury are family and friends of those who already live here.

REFERENDUM: In Kashechewan, 89 per cent of the people in the flood-prone James Bay First Nation voted earlier this fall to move to higher ground. Chief Leo Friday says the referendum was held to help convince the federal government to move Kashechewan further up river.

ATTAWAPISKAT: A special trip is being organized to inspire youth in Attawapiskat. Canadian actors Duane Howard and Michelle Thrush will visit schools in the community next month.

ROADS & HIGHWAYS​ ​ 

SUDBURY: Leslie Street: The installation of a new concrete box culvert will close Leslie Street, between Harvey Street and Mont Adam Street until December 16. Detours will be via Harvey Street to Mountain Street and Mont Adam Street to Mountain Street. Local traffic will be permitted. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained. Work will be done from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The work is part of the ongoing Mountain Street drainage project.

SUDBURY: Lorne Street: The installation of monitoring wells will result in intermittent lane closures in the northbound and southbound curb lanes on Lorne Street, at Walnut Street and at Birch Street, until today. Work will be done between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

SUDBURY: Notre Dame Avenue and Lasalle Boulevard Extension: Aecon/Union Gas will be unloading tree and brush clearing equipment to relocate pipelines for the Maley Drive Extension Project until December 20. Work will be done on Notre Dame, north of Turner Avenue and on the Lasalle Boulevard Extension, east of Collège Boréal. Intermittent lane closures are expected in both areas. 

MCCREA HEIGHTS: M.R. 80: Due to fire hydrant work, 500 metre sections of the north bound curb lane will be closed on M.R. 80 in McCrea Heights from Neal Street to Hubert Street until November 29. Work will be completed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

SUDBURY: ​Municipal Road 80: Notre Dame/Maley Drive interchange: work has begun on the Maley Drive extension. The northbound outside lane on MR 80, north of Turner Avenue will be closed for drilling and blasting. Work will be done weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the end of November. 

See problems on the roads or highways? 

• Send a note to @SudburyTraffic on Twitter;
• OR: phone the CBC Sudbury newsroom: (705) 688-3240 
• Find more information on road conditions on the Ministry of Transportation website 
• For road and traffic disruptions in Greater Sudbury, visit this online map