Remnants of Hurricane Patricia, Alberta clipper bearing down on Sault area

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Blind River - Thessalon, Espanola - Killarney and Manitoulin Island.

That statement warns of a developing fall storm will affect parts of Northeastern Ontario mid-week with rain and strong winds.

SooToday's weather forecaster, Jerry Shields, also touched on that developing weather front and warned Saultites and the residents of the surrounding area about the event that it will be affecting Sault Ste. Marie by Wednesday.

"In the coming days, a developing fall storm over the American Midwest is expected to merge with moisture from the remnants of hurricane Patricia then track toward the Great Lakes," says Environment Canada.

"Rainfall associated with this storm is forecast to spread into the regions on Wednesday morning," says Environment Canada, "The rainfall may be heavy at times, and a few thunderstorms may be heavy at times, especially on Wednesday afternoon and evening."

Shields says the Sault and area should expect rain Wednesday, followed by potentially damaging winds on Thursday as rain turns to snow.

"There is a risk of lake effect snow late Thursday," says Shields.

Environment Canada says rainfall amounts in its special weather area could be between 20 and 40 mm for most locales by the time the rain tapers to showers on Thursday.

"Additionally, strong and gusty southwesterly winds are forecast to develop by Thursday morning and persist through much of the day," says Environment Canada. "Wind gusts to about 60 or 70 km/h are likely."