Storm Tracker

An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for most of northwestern Ontario as meteorologists warn of windchill values near -40.

Environment Canada says cold nighttime low temperatures are expected to continue for the rest of the week, and the risks of frostbite are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors and those without proper shelter.

Kenora drivers are warned to stay home during tonight’s snowstorm if possible.

Multiple collisions have been reported in the community, including the Harbourfront roundabout, near the Kenora Legion and near the Lake of the Woods District Hospital, among others.

Traffic delays can be expected throughout the downtown core, and drivers are asked to take extreme caution.

Northwestern Ontario could break an over-40-year weather record today.

Meteorologists say the region hit a record high of 16.1 degrees today in 1978, and today's forecast is calling for a high of up to 18 degrees.

The Kenora area was just shy of breaking a nearly 70-year-old record on November 1, as temperatures reached a high of 13.3 degrees – below 1958’s record of 15 degrees for the day.

September 22 marks the first day of Fall and temperatures have been steadily dropping in northwestern Ontario – but what can we expect next weather-wise?

Environment Canada Meteorologist Geoff Coulson says over the next week or so, residents will see seasonal-average temperatures around 14 degrees, with the risk of rain through the weekend.

Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for most of northwestern Ontario, calling for up to 100mm of rain by tomorrow.

Meteorologists say they’re tracking a low-pressure system through the region, which is expected to bring 30 to 50mm of rain tonight, with the potential that the storm will continue into tomorrow morning with another 30 to 50mm.

Residents in the Sioux Lookout, Big Trout Lake and Kasabonika Lake areas are warned of a string of severe thunderstorms making their way through the region today.

Environment Canada says the storms are expected to produce up to 90 kilometre per hour winds with Toonie-sized hail.

Staff remind the public to always seek shelter when threatening weather approaches, and to never leave your shelter until at least 30 minutes past the last roar of thunder to ensure the system has passed your area.

Lake of the Woods dropped by another 9 cm (3 in) over the past week to an average level of 323.64 m (1061.8 ft), which is over the 95th percentile level for this time of year.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says the Kenora Dams remain fully open and they anticipate lake levels to drop by 9 to 11 cm (3 to 4 in) over the next week.

The 2022 forest fire season has been quiet when compared to the record-breaking forest fire season we lived through last year.

In 2021, the province saw a record 1180 fires reported that burned well over 770,000 hectares. Crews with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry spent a brutal summer working to slow the fire's advancement while several communities, including Red Lake and Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, were put on evacuation notice.

Last week's heavy rain caused lake levels to stabilize for a day or two, but the drawdown of Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul has resumed.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says, "weekly [rainfall] totals were well above average ranging from 40 to 75 mm for most areas. This rainfall has caused tributary flows to increase temporarily and lake levels to stabilize for a day or two."

Thursday's storm systems brought less rain than expected.

The observation site at the Kenora Aiport reported 10.8 mm of rain following Thursday's storm. So far in August, 52.9 mm of rain has fallen in Kenora - which accounts for 62.82 per cent of the average monthly rainfall.

August has been slightly wetter in Dryden. To date, 66.2 mm of rain has been reported at the Dryden Airport including the 15.1 mm that fell yesterday. In a typical August, Dryden receives about 83.7 mm of rain.

A small chance of showers is in the forecast today, before a hot and dry weekend.