The expected widespread rainfall in the region has led the Lake of the Woods Control Board to authorize an outflow of 1025 m³/s for the Lake of the Woods beginning on Sunday (May 1, 2022).
A rainfall warning was issued for Kenora on Friday (April 29, 2022) as yet another Colorado Low is expected to sweep through the region this weekend, bringing with it an estimated 20-40 mm of rain.
The Winnipeg River is expected to rise as follows in response to the outflow increase, with additional temporary rise likely due to local runoff and rainfall:
Below Norman Dam: 30 cm (12 in)
Above Kimberley Rapids: 24 cm (10 in)
Winnipeg River Marina: 24 cm (10 in)
Near Locke Bay: 23 cm (9 in)
Above Myrtle Rapids: 22 cm (9 in)
Above the Dalles: 22 cm (9 in)
Above Throat Rapids: 23 cm (9 in)
Minaki: 19 cm (8 in)
The lake level provides the pressure to push water out of the lake and past Norman Dam. As the lake continues to rise, the outflow will also gradually rise as will the level of the Winnipeg River.
The LWCB will meet again on Monday, May 2, 2022, to review the latest conditions and forecasts and evaluate further outflow increases.
The level of Lake of the Woods rose 20 cm (7.87 inches.) in the past week and is expected to rise another 25-30 cm (9-12 inches.) over the next week, according to the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB).
Northwestern Ontario had already broken a 62-year-old weather record this month. Between April 1 to April 25, over 99 mm of both rain and snow fell in the Kenora area, breaking 1957’s record of 95 mm.
With the anticipated precipitation, the Kenora area is expected to break the record for the wettest April on record. In April of 1924, 112 mm of precipitation fell in the Kenora area.