Storm Tracker

Hundreds of homes in northwestern Ontario are still without power after Sunday night’s severe thunderstorm ripped through the region, and there’s no timeline on when power will be restored.

“This storm caused significant damage to some of our equipment due to trees that came down. There’s a lot of work to do to repair local infrastructure in the area,” explains Hydro One Spokesperson, Alicia Sayers.

Environment Canada has ended their Thunderstorm Warning for the area. 

A rainfall warning’s in effect for northwestern Ontario.

Environment Canada warns that heavy rain is expected to begin Tuesday morning and will continue into Tuesday night, with up to 60 mm possible by Wednesday morning.

Meteorologists warn the heavy downpours are expected to be associated with severe thunderstorms as well, which are expected to taper off by Wednesday afternoon.

Environment Canada reminds residents to seek shelter immediately if threatening weather approaches.

Hydro workers and emergency responders are still cleaning up after Sunday night’s severe thunderstorm in northwestern Ontario, with high winds, heavy downpours and reports of tornado activity near Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls.

Members of the Kenora OPP and Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls Fire and Rescue were on the scene of Caliper Lake Provincial Park after multiple trees fell on campers and vehicles and blocked roadways after the storm.

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the region.

Hot and humid conditions are expected Saturday into Monday.

Temperatures reaching near 30 degrees Celsius with humidex values near 36 are expected over the next 3 days.

Overnight lows near 18 degrees Celsius will provide little relief from the heat.

The risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

Northwestern Ontario got pelted by over 30 mm of rain through yesterday afternoon’s thunderstorms, but we didn’t break a record.

Environment Canada says 31.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at the Dryden Airport yesterday, but the rainfall record for July 11 was set in 2008 when the area saw over 43 mm of rain.

“That’s still a lot of rain though. 31 millimetres is still pretty substantial,” said Environment Canada Meteorologist, Gerald Cheng, who says more storm activity can be expected in the coming days.

The level of Lake of the Woods declined slightly over the last week.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says the average lake level declined slightly, by 1 cm over the seven days, and is expected to continue to decline by 3 to 5 cm over the next week.

The lake remains over the 95th percentile level for this time of year at 324.09 m (1063.3 ft), which is above the 2014 peak and below the record peak of 324.31 m (1064.0 ft), set in July of 1950.

While Environment Canada’s Severe Thunderstorm Watches have ended for the Kenora and Dryden areas, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect in the Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, Lac Seul, Ear Falls, Wabaseemoong and Red Lake areas.

Isolated thunderstorms northwest of the Kenora area moved eastward through the region today. A tornado was reported near the Wabasemoong Independent Nation area, but no reports of injuries or damage have been reported as of yet.

Residents are reminded to take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.

-- UPDATE --

The severe thunderstorm watch for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, and the surrounding communities has been upgraded to a warning.

A few isolated thunderstorms northwest of Kenora will track eastward through the region late this afternoon and approach severe thunderstorm limits due to damaging hail and gusty winds up to 90 km/h.

Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. Large hail can damage property and cause injury.

-- UPDATE --

The storm system has passed.

-- ORIGINAL STORY --

As per Environment Canada:

Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and torrential rain.

These thunderstorms moving eastward from Manitoba will be possible through early tonight.