Storm Tracker

The severe thunderstorm watch is over.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls, Morson, Dryden, Vermilion Bay and the surrounding communities.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and nickle-sized hail.

The risk that a severe thunderstorm could develop continues into the early evening.

Kenora Fire 27 is being held.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) says Kenora Fire 27, 52 kilometres north of Kenora, has been held at 4,480 hectares.

Yesterday, the MNRF said 10 Fire Ranger crews worked to extinguish hotspots on the fire's perimeter and establish campsites and helipads.

This morning, the Implementation Order around Kenora Fire 27 was rescinded. Area residents will be allowed to visit their property once again, access closed roads, and use Crown Lands adjacent to previously closed roads.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is rescinding its Implementation Order around Kenora Fire 27 effective at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25.

The roads that will reopen include:

Effective 6 a.m. on Monday, May 24 the Implementation Order keeping the public away from Kenora Fire 25 & 30 will no longer be in effect in the Willard Lake area.

Area residents will be allowed to once again visit their property, access closed roads and make use of Crown Lands adjacent to previously closed roads.

The Ministry of Natural Resouces and Forestry (MNRF) lists Kenora Fire 25 and 30 as "not under control" and reminds residents to be mindful of crews that are working diligently to put these fires out.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls, Morson, Dryden, Vermilion Bay and the surrounding communities.

Meteorologists with Environment Canada say a serve thunderstorm could develop in the region late this afternoon or this evening. The main threats are winds gusts up to 90 km/h, 2 cm hail, and heavy downpours.

As fire crews with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry continue to battle two huge forest fires in the area, the MNRF is restricting access to certain roads and Crown lands near the fires.

Due to Kenora Fire 25, all travel, use and access of the following areas are prohibited:

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls, Morson and the surrounding communities.

Meteorologists say conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts of up to 90km/h in portions of northwestern Ontario adjacent to the Manitoba border, including Kenora and Red Lake. The storms are expected to arrive late this afternoon and early this evening.

Much needed rain is expected to fall across the region beginning late this afternoon.

Over the next 36 hours, accumulations of between 20 and 45 millimetres of rain are expected, which will help reduce the forest fire hazard in the region.

Environment Canada Meteroglist, Peter Kimbell, says May has been very dry.

"It's been dry the month of May. So far only 12 millimetres [of rain have fallen] so far. Normal May precipitation in Kenora would be around 81 millimeters, so it has been dry," Kimbell noted.

Residents near Willard Lake are being evacuated as Kenora Fire 25 continues to burn out of control.

"At this time, residents are being evacuated from Willard and Hawk Lake. They are evacuating [area residents] as a precaution," said Jonathon Scott, Fire Information Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).

At this time it's unclear how many residents have been evacuated from the area. Scott noted the evacuation is a precaution as the Kenora Fire 25 is two kilometres from Hawk Lake and 1.5 kilometres from Williard Lake.

As Kenora Fire 26 continues to burn east of Kenora, residents of Hawk Lake are being evacuated due to the fire.

Kenora Fire 26 has grown to 150 hectares in size.

The wildfire was reported at 3:54 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 approximately 34 kilometres east of Kenora, near Little Narrow Like.

This fire is currently listed as 'out-of-control.'

This story is developing and we'll provide more information as it becomes available.