Special weather statements issued in northern Ont. for freezing or heavy rain
Update:
Environment Canada has lifted the thunderstorm watches issued on Saturday for northeastern Ontario – however, has since issued special weather statements warning of freezing or heavy rain from Chapleau, Ont. to Sturgeon Lake, Ont. beginning Sunday evening into Monday afternoon.
Weather alert map showing special weather statements (grey) in northeastern Ontario as of 5:15 p.m. on April 28, 2024. (Supplied/Environment Canada)
In statements on Sunday , weather forecasters said significant freezing rain or heavy rain is possible into Monday.
Freezing rain
As of 1 p.m., the special weather statement regarding freezing rain were in effect for the communities of Agawa, Beardmore, Black Sturgeon Lake, Caramat, Chapleau, Geraldton, Gull Bay, Hornepayne, Jellicoe, Lake Superior Park, Longlac, Macdiarmid, Manitouwadge, Marathon, Missinaibi Lake, Nipigon, Pukaskwa, Raith, Superior North, Superior West, Thunder Bay, Upsala, Wawa and White River.
“A low pressure system is expected to affect the region and a period of freezing rain and ice pellets is possible,” read the updated statement.
"For most areas freezing rain will be brief before changing to rain or snow, however areas of higher terrain may see freezing rain last slightly longer."
Hazards include ice build-up and icy surfaces due to freezing rain.
Forecasters said that power outages are possible during the weather event and the freezing rain may result in surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots becoming slippery.
An undated file photo of ice formed from freezing rain. (CTV News)
Heavy rain
As of shortly before 1:30 p.m., special weather statements were issued in the communities of Greater Sudbury and area, Manitoulin Island Sault Ste. Marie, Batchawana Bay, Blind River, Elliot Lake, Killarney, Montreal River Harbour, Ranger Lake, Searchmont and St. Joseph Island for heavy rainfall with 20 – 30mm of rain expected from Sunday evening into Monday afternoon or evening.
“A low pressure system will bring another round of rain to the area,”read the statements.
“The ground, already near saturation, has little ability to absorb further rainfall.”
Forecasters said localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
Several communities in northeastern Ontario are under weather alerts for heavy rain. (File photo/CTV News)
To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.
Original story:
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several communities in northeastern Ontario on Saturday afternoon – primarily the Greater Sudbury area and West Nipissing.
Weather alert map (yellow -- thunderstorm watch and grey -- rainfall weather statement) as of 4:15 p.m. on April 27, 2024. (Supplied/Environment Canada)
The watch includes areas of North Bay, Parry Sound, West Nipissing and Greater Sudbury and vicinity along with the communities of Bayfield Inlet, Blind River, Bruce Peninsula, Burk's Falls, Chapleau, Dunchurch, Elliot Lake, Espanola, French River, Killarney, Manitoulin Island, Mattawa, Missinaibi Lake, Muskoka, North Bay, Powassan, Ranger Lake, Sauble Beach, South River, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores, Thessalon and Tobermory.
This comes as most of the region was already under a special weather statement for rainfall of up to 45mm and flood watches are in effect for most areas affected.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing large hail and heavy rain,” Environment Canada said in its statements.
Hazards include rapid rainfall of up to 50mm in an hour, twoonie size hail, and flash flooding late Saturday afternoon into the night.
“Large hail can damage property and cause injury,” the statement said.
“Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.”
Lightning strikes a North Bay, Ont., sky on June 11, 2017. (File photo/Supplied/Cody Holliday)
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms.
“(Storms) could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall,” read the statement.
Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches, said Environment Canada officials.
For more information on how to prepare for an emergency, visit their website.
To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.