Storm Tracker

A return to ‘normal’ water levels is still likely to be multiple weeks away, but levels seem to be stabilizing in the Kenora area.

Staff with the Lake of the Woods Control Board say with only short-lived precipitation in this week’s forecast and a general trend of average precipitation in June, inflows into Lake of the Woods are remaining stable or decreasing very slowly.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the Kenora and Grassy Narrows areas.

Environment Canada warns that clusters of thunderstorms with high winds are expected to develop this afternoon or tonight, with up to 90 km/h winds. The storms are expected to begin near the Manitoba border and move eastward.

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.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, Whitedog, Sioux Narrows, Nester Falls, and Morson. 

Environment Canada is warning of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts of 90 to 110km/h, large hail and heavy rain. 

Storms are predicted to begin in the early evening. 

A few severe thunderstorms are expected to develop early this evening. Strong wind gusts, large hail and locally heavy downpours are the main threats with these thunderstorms.

Northwestern Ontario’s recent heat wave has broken a 27-year-old record for the Kenora area, and another record could be broken later this afternoon.

Environment Canada says Sunday’s high of 33 degrees Celsius in Kenora was the warmest June 19 on record dating back to 1995, when the record was set at 31.8 degrees.

“We did get up to 33 degrees yesterday, breaking that record. In terms of the heat and humidity, there’s one more day to go, and it’s already 28 or 29 degrees in the Kenora area,” notes Meteorologist Geoff Coulson.

As the mercury is set to soar into the mid-30s, Environment Canada has issued a Heat Warning for the region.

The weather agency says maximum temperatures on Sunday are expected to reach between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius.

Good news for those closely watching the level of Lake of the Woods.

For the first time this year, the Lake of the Woods Control Board suggests that the level of Lake of the Woods is expected to remain stable over the next seven days, indicating that the lake may be near a peak.

The Control Board says the lake will see a decrease of less than 1 cm (0.5 in) or an increase of up to 2 cm (1 in), depending on the rainfall received across the region. Noting that a return of wet weather could result in a second, higher peak.

Environment Canada says more storm activity in northwestern Ontario is expected to bring more high winds, rain and possible hail again to the region later today.

Environment Canada Meteorologist, Gerald Cheng, says Tuesday’s storms in the area brought 20.9 mm of rainfall at the Kenora Airport, the majority of this month’s overall total of 30.6 mm.

Essex Road at Hooterville Trail has reopened following unprecedented flooding in the City of Kenora.

The city completed remedial gravel repairs to the area that flooded and there is no longer water over the road.

For the second time today, a severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Kenora, Dryden, Vermilion Bay and the surrounding communities.

There is potential for severe thunderstorms to develop along an approaching cold front. The main threats are damaging wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h, nickel to ping-pong ball-sized hail, heavy rain, and a tornado may also be possible.

Environment Canada says severe thunderstorms could hit the region this afternoon into this evening.

-- Update --

The severe thunderstorm warning has ended, but the watch remains in place.

-- Original Story --

Environment Canada has upgraded its Severe Thunderstorm Watch to a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the Kenora area, as meteorologists say we could see 90 km/h winds, nickel-size hail and heavy downpours.

They say a line of strong thunderstorms developed over parts of North Dakota and Minnesota and they made their way into parts of northwestern Ontario shortly after 10 a.m. this morning.