Storm Tracker

Northwestern Ontario is expected to receive yet another Colorado low this weekend. 

Environment Canada is expecting another storm to hit the region tomorrow (Friday, April 22) afternoon, this time it will bring large amounts of rain. Environment Canada Meteorologist Gerald Cheng explained what we can expect.  

Patchy freezing rain, along with significant rainfall is expected to start tomorrow (Friday, April 22) as a Colorado Low is set to impact the region.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the region Thursday afternoon which states, "patchy freezing rain with ice accretion up to 2 mm and total rainfall amounts of 30 to 50 mm are expected by the Saturday evening."

The latest system is expected to hit the region on Friday morning as snow, ice pellets, or freezing rain before changing to rain Friday afternoon.

High levels of precipitation and dramatic shifts in temperature have caused lake levels to rise and in response, the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) has authorized lake outflow to be increased. 

The current level of Lake of the Woods is 322.56 m (1058.3 ft), a 50th percentile level for this time of year. 

Mother nature is ruling down with an iron fist yet again, as more snow is in the forecast.

Environment Canada, says the region will see around 5 to 10 cm of rain and snow hit the ground, starting Tuesday night (April 19, 2022) into Wednesday morning (April 20, 2022).

Along with the snow, up to 40 km/h wind gusts will accompany the spring snow and a forecasted high of +3 degrees on Wednesday.

Dryden, Sioux Lookout, and Red Lake, like Kenora, are all expected to get the hit with the same quick blast of winter.

With the recent dump of snow and continuing colder temperatures, the thaw on Lake of the Woods is being delayed, according to Tim Armstrong from Lake of the Woods Ice Patrol.

“I think we’re going to have at least some ice on the lake until May 16, May 22,” said Armstrong on the Q Morning Show.

“By some measures, the thaw hasn’t started yet,” Armstrong continued.

“If you look at the mean daily temperature, the average, we want that to be above freezing to mostly melt ice day by day and that hasn’t happened for more than a couple, three days in a row.”

30 to 50 cm of snow was forecasted to fall earlier this week as a Colorado Low descended on the region, but how much actually fell?

The answer varies, depending on where you live.

After a 15-hour closure, Highway 17 has been reopened between the Manitoba border and Shabaqua Corners.

According to Ontario 511, Highway 17 between Kenora and Dryden is listed as partly snow-covered to snow-covered with reduced visibility in some seconds. Dryden to Thunder Bay is listed as bare.

At this time, Highway 502, 599, 516, and 642 remain closed.

There is no word on when the highways will reopen.

Keep up to date with all weather conditions with the REMR Roofing Storm Tracker.

A major Colorado low storm system is continuing to make its way through the region today, and more municipal services and roadways have been affected.

Environment Canada reports that the Kenora area received about 15 centimetres of snow overnight, and another two to five centimetres is expected to fall again tonight.

The City of Kenora says the following services or locations have been closed:

At least 264 households are without power this morning following a Colorado Low that brought high winds and heavy snowfall to the region.

Hydro One says power should be restored for the 173 households near Clearwater Bay, that are currently without power, by Noon today (Thursday, April 14).

91 households in the Laclu are without power. At the time of publishing, Hydro One hasn't provided an estimated time for restoration. 

Environment Canada says residents will wake up to a bunch of snow on Thursday (April 14, 2022) as a Colorado Low continues to blast through the region.

Steven Flisfeder, Environment Canada Meteorologist, said Wednesday afternoon, the bulk of the snow was expected to fall Wednesday night into Thursday (April 13, 2022).

“By tomorrow morning [Thursday] we should be seeing totals including what fell already today [Wednesday] of totals of about 10-20 cm,” said Flisfeder.