Storm Tracker

Residents in the region have already started to rearrange, postpone, or cancel their Easter plans, amid an expected 20-35 cm of snow to fall by Friday.

Due to the heavy snowfall, travel has been discouraged for northwestern Ontario and parts of Manitoba.

One Kenora resident was expecting company over the long weekend from Manitoba but due to the storm has had to postpone those plans a few days.

-- UPDATE --

Highway 17 and 11 have reopened.

-- Original Story --

Highway 17 between the Manitoba border and Shabaqua Corners has been closed.

Highway 502 and Highway 11, from Fort Frances to Shabaqua Corners, have also been closed.

Ontario Provincial Police closed the highways due to weather conditions.

There is no word on when the highways will reopen.

Environment Canada says between 10 and 20 cm of snow is expected to fall in the region overnight as a Colorado Low moves through the region.

Those in need in Kenora have a few more supports available to them to get through this week’s major snowstorm, with the forecast calling for another 20 centimetres of snow overnight.

---Update---

The City of Kenora has declared the Significant Weather Event, which has been in effect since April 13, 2022, over. The city declared it over on April 19, 2022. 

---Original Story Below---

The heavily anticipated spring storm system has touched down in Northwestern Ontario, bringing with it heavy snowfall over the next couple of days.

Environment Canada says from what they can see the bulk of the snow will hit the region throughout the day on Wednesday (April 13, 2022).

“In Kenora in particular it’s looking like 20-35 cm as a two-day total. Most of that is going to be starting later today from the evening into the overnight. Today looks more like 5-10 cm,” said Steven Flisfeder, Environment Canada Meteorologist.

Synergy North is preparing for the possibility of numerous power outages, as the result of a massive spring storm expecting to sweep across Northwestern Ontario starting on Wednesday (April 12, 2022).

An estimated 30-50 cm of snow is expected to fall over the course of two days, 70km/h wind gusts, mixed with sub-zero temperatures could see many customers lose power.

It’s near whiteout conditions on Northwestern Ontario highways, and heading west into Manitoba as the spring storm of the decade bringing lots of snow in a short period of time has officially begun.

The snow began to fall in the region early Wednesday morning (April 13, 2022) beginning to cover highways. The region is expected to get between 20-45 cm of snow from Wednesday through until Friday. 

Due to weather conditions, City Transit service has been cancelled for today, Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

The City thanks residents for their patience and apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Grocery stores all over Kenora were packed with shoppers on Tuesday (April 12, 2022), in preparation for the 30-50 cm of snow Environment Canada is predicting.

The storm is scheduled to begin rolling through Northwestern Ontario on Wednesday (April 13, 2022) with 10-15 cm of snow. It will continue on Thursday (April 14, 2022) with an additional 15 cm expected before tapering off on Friday (April 15, 2022).

As a Colorado Low that is expected to dump between 30 to 50 cm of snow nears the region, a winter storm warning has been issued.

A strong low-pressure system is expected to track over northwestern Ontario bringing a couple of days of heavy snow and blowing snow. Snow is expected to begin Wednesday morning and continue through Thursday into Friday morning.

There is the potential that heavy snow and blowing snow could continue into Friday afternoon. The heaviest snow is expected to fall Wednesday night and Thursday.