Storm Tracker

At 8:23 a.m. CDT, Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing up to toonie-sized hail and heavy rain.

This severe thunderstorm is located 14 kilometres south of Lost Lake, moving north at 40 km/h.

Hazard: Toonie size hail.

Locations impacted include:
Eagle Lake and Lost Lake.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Kenora, Grassy Narrows, White Dog, Sioux Narrows, Nestor Falls and Morson.

Conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that may be capable of producing hail and locally heavy rain early this morning.

Lake of the Woods rose by 6 cm (2.5 in) over the past week and now sits at 324.03 m (1063.1 ft), which is over 95th percentile level for this time of year.

The lake is expected to peak by the end of June followed by a gradual drop.

It's still possible for Lake of the Woods to reach the record level that was set back in July of 1950 at 324.31 m (1064.0 ft).

The Winnipeg River level rise over the next 7 days below Norman Dam is expected to be 3-6 cm (1-2 in) with less rise further downstream from Kenora, reaching 1-2 cm (1 in) at Minaki.

Residents of the region are advised to keep cool and stay hydrated as humidex values are anticipated to reach just under +40C Tuesday.

Environment Canada recently release the following statement:

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible this evening.

Hazards: 
90 km/h wind gusts
Nickel size hail.

Timing: 
This evening.

Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.

Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!

— Update —

Highway 71 has reopened.

— Original Story —

Highway 71, five kilometres south of the Highway 17 junction, is closed in both directions due to a forest fire.

The Ministry of Transportation says, “Hwy 71 is currently closed at Isabelle Lake, 5km south of hwy 17 junction, due to a forest fire. Duration of closure is expected to be short.”

At the time of publishing, it’s unclear when the highway will reopen or how big the fire is.

Residents in the region now have access to the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing said in a prepared release, "The disaster assistance program applies to a primary residence and its basic contents, or to a small business, farm, or not-for-profit organization."

"Following a natural disaster, it may provide assistance for basic emergency and clean-up expenses and the costs to repair or replace essential property not covered by insurance."

Lake of the Woods is one foot away from reaching the record peak that was set in 1950.

The Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) says the lake rose by 8 cm (3 in) over the past week to 323.99 m (1063.0 ft), over 95th percentile level for this time of year.

The level of Lake of the Woods is expected to rise by approximately 6-10 cm (2-4 in) over the next 7 days, getting closer to the record level of 324.31 m (1064.0 ft) which was set in July of 1950.

Environment Canada says there is the possibility of funnel clouds forming across the region this afternoon into this evening.

The weather agency says, ‘these types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.’

An evacuation order has been issued for residents of the Sedesky Road and Wildwood Drive areas.

Residents along those roads should evacuate the area immediately.

The City of Kenora says, "water is now approaching ten inches on Sedesky Road and was closed late yesterday afternoon."

The flood watch has expected to now include Herbacz Road, Golf Course Road, Gould Road.

Residents along those roads, along with West Bay Road and Second West Bay Road should be monitoring their homes and the possibility of flooding in their areas.