Storm Tracker

-- UPDATE --

Power has been restored.

-- ORIGINAL STORY --

Roughly 280 households are without power this evening in the Vermilion Bay area following a severe thunderstorm that rolled through around 9:00 p.m.

Hydro One says the cause of the outage is 'pending classification,' while area residents say lightning hit a transformer.

The utility says a crew has been dispatched to the area and power should be restored by 12:25 a.m. on July 10.

It was a dryer than normal June across the Winnipeg River Drainage Basin.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board says, "total basin mean precipitation amounts for the month of June were very consistently between 50 and 100 mm. These amounts corresponded to a range of 11th to 32nd percentile, which is less than normal."

The level of Lake of the Woods is slowly dropping, but a return to a normal summer level is still months away.

In the Lake of the Woods Control Board's (LWCB) Wednesday update, they say the level of the lake dropped 1 cm (1/2 in) over the past week with little change expected over the next seven days.

"With outflow from Rainy Lake gradually dropping as the lake level falls and forecasted precipitation, the level of Lake of the Woods is expected to remain constant or decrease by 3 cm (0-1 in) over the next seven days," stated the LWCB. 

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kenora and the surrounding communities.

The agency says, ‘conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts of up to 90km/h and large hail.’

Thunderstorms have developed over Manitoba and will continue to move east into the area this evening. Some of the these thunderstorms could produce strong wind gusts and pea to dime sized hail.

Lake of the Woods remains over the 95 percentile level for this time of year at 324.10 m (1063.3 ft).

In its Friday update, the Lake of the Woods Control Board says Lake of the Woods appears to have crested, and data released today suggests the level of the lake has begun to drop.

Over the past week, the level of the lake fell by 1 cm (1/2 in) and is expected to fall by 3-5 cm (1-2 in) over the next 7 days.

Mother Nature did what she could to help northwestern Ontario out last month with the area’s severe flooding situation, sending us roughly half of the rain that we typically see in the average June.

Environment Canada Meteorologist, Gerald Cheng, says the Kenora Airport recorded 60.8 mm of rain last month, which is about 51 per cent of the average amount of 118.7 mm of precipitation we would usually see.

“When we talk about this spring, it was just system after system for northwestern Ontario. That’s why there was so much rain,” explains Cheng.

Lake of the Woods appears to have crested, according to the Lake of the Woods Control Board.

Now many are wondering when Lake of the Woods will return to normal summer levels, a question that isn't easily answered.

"As was the case while the lake was rising, it is not possible to develop a forecast for the rate of drop in the level over the long term because the rainfall is unknown," said the LWCB in its Friday update.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, and the surrounding communities.

The weather agency says, as of 5:46 p.m. CDT, meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing up to nickel size hail and heavy rain. This severe thunderstorm is located near Shrub Lake, moving northeast at 40 km/h. Big Canon Lake and Canyon Lake could also be impacted.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for the Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls and Morson areas.

Environment Canada says conditions are favourable for the development of possible tornadoes, up to 120 km/h winds, nickel to golf ball-sized hail and heavy downpours, as early as this afternoon into tonight.

Residents are warned to seek shelter immediately if threatening weather approaches. Environment Canada says this is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect in the Kenora and Dryden areas, calling for up to 100 km/h winds, nickel to quarter-sized hail and heavy downpours.

Environment Canada says they expect the storm to hit the area this afternoon or tonight.

Environment Canada adds that strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off of trees and overturn large vehicles, so residents should be prepared for severe weather.