Storm Tracker

Highway 17 has been closed east of Vermilion Bay due to a washout.

All lanes of Highway 17, between Rhyner's Road and 83 Road, have been closed due to water from a flooded Eagle River flowing over the road.

The Ministry of Transportation says a detour is in place.

A state of emergency has been issued in the Municipality of Red Lake.

The declaration was made my mayor and council earlier today (Tuesday, May 10, 2022) due to flooding across the municipality.

Residents in the unorganized Kenora area now have sandbags available to them with the extremely high water levels in the area.

The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry says they’re continuing to monitor the situation, and will be providing sandbags at the ministry’s Kenora office at 808 Robertson Street. Sand will not be available, however.

Those receiving sandbags may be asked to provide identification to ensure that resources are being distributed appropriately.

Monday’s rainfall (May 9, 2022), was just over one millimetre shy of breaking a 95-year-old rainfall record for that day.

According to Environment Canada’s website, Monday’s rainfall total beat the current record dating back to 2002, when 9.9 mm of precipitation fell, but according to Meteorologist, Peter Kimbell that wasn’t the true record.

“I know our website indicates that but that’s because our website stats only go back to the 1930s or so, but if you look back prior to that it turns out we got 37.6 mm on May 9, 1927. It was a lot of rain but not a record.”

--- Update ---

The Roads crew worked to complete emergency repairs to School Road today. As of 3:30 p.m., School Road has reopened to all traffic.

--- Original Story ---

Due to flooding, the City of Kenora is advising residents that School Road, just north of the city is now completely washed out. Road crews are actively working on a new culvert installation to try to divert some water.

At this time, there is no access in or out of this area between the Hooterville Trail and Millership swamp until repairs can be completed.

It didn't take long for access to Red Lake to be closed off once again. 

Due to flooding, Highway 105 from Vermilion Bay to Highway 609 is fully closed due to water all over the road. Drivers are asked to avoid the area. The highway is fully closed also 20 kilometers south of Red Lake due to the washout. 

After being closed for over two days the Municipality of Red Lake and the Ministry of Transportation confirmed on Monday night (May 9, 2022) that Highway 105 at Caribou Creek had been repaired and is re-opened. The highway was fully open for only a couple of hours. 

-- Update --

Highway 17 has been closed between Rhyner's Road and 83 Road due to a washout.

-- Original Story --

Highway 17 east of Vermilion Bay remains open, but is underwater.

Water from Eagle River spilled its banks earlier this month and has been slowly encroaching on the highway.

As of 3:35 p.m., Highway 17 remains open according to the Ministry of Transportation. 

A number of roadways across the region are either closed or washed out.

City of Kenora crews have been hard at work all weekend, and then into Monday, trying to get a handle on roadways that have been impacted by all the melted snow and continuous rain.

On Monday, the city was forced to close portions of Essex Road due to road flooding and is continuing to monitor the ever-changing situation on Kenora’s roadways.

After being closed for over two days the Municipality of Red Lake and the Ministry of Transportation confirmed on Monday night (May 9, 2022) that Highway 105 at Caribou Creek has been repaired and is re-opened. 

"Those travelling should remain cautious as conditions could change at any time," says the municipality in a social media post on Monday evening.

The road surface completely washed out at approximately noon on Saturday, May 7, 2022, and it is understood that a logging road, which could've served as an alternate route was also washed away.

Another road in the Kenora area has fallen victim to increased flooding. The Ministry of Transportation has closed Gilbertson Road, which is northwest of Kenora, right off Highway 641.

The MTO says the road has been washed out, and no detour is in place at this time. This road joins a long line of roads and highways that have been closed due to washouts or flooding in the past few days.