Storm Tracker

Between 33.6 mm and 54 mm of rain fell in Kenora as a storm system hammered the community Tuesday.

"Looking at the numbers at the Kenora Airport, we have a couple of sites at the airport, one site picked up 33.6 mm, while the other site picked up 35.6 mm. A site east of the airport picked up almost 54 mm and a site a little to the west of the airport picked up 46.6 mm," said Environment Canada meteorologist, Geoff Coulson.

"A notable rainfall for a month so far that has pretty much been on the dry side."

Northwestern Ontario residents should be battening down the hatches today ahead of some potentially heavy downpours in parts of the region, and drivers should be prepared for the worst.

Environment Canada has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Kenora, Sioux Narrows, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Nestor Falls and Morson.

Levels across the watershed are continuing to fall and the pace is expected to accelerate this week.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says the level of Lake of the Woods dropped by 10 cm (3.5 in) over the past week to an average level of 323.90 m (1062.7 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year.

With inflow into the lake reduced by dams upstream, and the Kenora dams fully open, the lake is anticipated to decline by 12 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in) over the next week.

Environment Canada says the region should see some relief from the recent wet weather as we head into early August.

“If we look ahead, at least for the next couple of weeks, it looks like a bit of a break in the pattern in store for the Lake of the Woods area,” explains Environment Canada Meteorologist Geoff Coulson.

Environment Canada says we won’t see much relief from the rain this August Long Weekend. 

Environment Canada Meteorologist Steven Filsfeder says a storm system is already hitting the region, and more storm activity can be expected throughout the weekend.

“The rain showers are on our doorstep. As we go through the next couple of days, tonight is when we’ll see the most active showers and thunderstorms. There could be some locally heavy downpours, up to 25 mm in the heaviest-hit areas.”

Municipal leadership with the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls have declared a State of Emergency after Sunday night’s severe thunderstorm and possible tornado activity destroyed large swathes of the area.

They say the hardest hit areas include Caliper Lake Provincial Park, the downtown core of Nestor Falls and the Sabaskong Bay area including Sabaskong Bay Road and nearby islands.

Highway 17 has reopened between Kenora and Vermilion Bay following a washout that closed the Trans-Canada Highway for several hours Wednesday morning.

The highway closure, which was reported at 03:43 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20, was near Richard Lake east of Kenora.

Environment Canada says they recorded up to 101 mm of rainfall last night, which shattered rainfall records for the area. The previous record of only 20 mm, or one-fifth of what we received last night, was set back in 1992.

The region’s still recovering from Tuesday night’s severe storm and rainfall which closed highways, took out power to homes and shattered weather records in northwestern Ontario.

Highway 17 reopened between Kenora and Vermilion Bay at Richard Lake Road late this morning after being closed for several hours due to a massive hole in the highway.

Hydro One reports 11 seperate power outages within the Kenora area affecting 134 homes. They include two outages on Airport Road, one on North Poplar Bay Road and seven outages in the Channel Island and Thompson Island area.

Highway 17 has reopened.

-- Original Story --

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) reports highway 17 is closed due to a washout causing a substantial hole in the highway.  

The highway closure, which was reported at 03:43 a.m., is by Richard Lake in Kenora near distance marker 108 and stretches only within this immediate location. 

No detour is available. 

Highway 71 has now reopened after a closure earlier this morning. 

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