Rains provide relief for wildfires in Manitoba, NW Ontario, but raise flood risk
Some relief is on the way to Manitoba and northwestern Ontario wildfires, but heavy downpours in thunderstorms could dampen the ground and raise the flood threat
As dangerous wildfires continue to prompt evacuation orders across sections of the eastern Prairies--with two fatalities attributed to a wildfire in Manitoba--and northern Ontario, a change in the weather pattern will bring some much-needed rain and a significant drop in temperatures through the weekend.
Between 75-100 mm of rainfall is forecast as a major pattern breaks through the recent Prairie heat wave.
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The good news is the extreme heat will finally break across Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, with heavy rainfall spanning the region over the next several days.
The slow-moving and shifting heat will create a boundary, leading to significant rainfall and the potential for severe thunderstorms. Be sure to stay up-to-date on all of the weather alerts and warnings that may be issued in your area.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms stretch across Saskatchewan and Manitoba through Thursday
Expect rounds of heavy rainfall to last between 48-72 hours, with substantial totals forecast in some areas. Southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba could see up to 100 mm of rain through Friday.
While this is good news for areas vulnerable to the wildfire conditions, this could also bring a heightened flood threat to parts of the region. The hot, and dry soil will have a limited ability to absorb this heavy rainfall.
A thunderstorm threat will span the region, as well, with the risk stretching across both on Thursday.
More widespread thunderstorm activity is expected on Thursday, with stronger impacts centred around the Winnipeg, Man., area. There will be a chance for stronger storms in south-central locales of Manitoba.
Heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail are the main threats with any storms that develop.
Another large low pressure system is expected over the central U.S. early next week, and that could bring additional widespread rain to southern parts of the region .
Wildfire activity worsens across northern Ontario
With the ongoing heat and dry conditions, the fire activity worsened quickly across parts of northern Ontario, and prompted border communities to quickly evacuate.
RELATED: South Whiteshell Provincial Park cottagers flee, fire moves from Ontario border
Out-of-control wildfires persist near places like Kenora, Sioux Lookout, and Ingolf, Ont., with the fire danger rating reaching 'extreme' criteria. Wildfire smoke is greatly affecting air quality.
Incoming rainfall and cooler temperatures will help the situation by the weekend.
Single-digit high temperatures are likely for areas to the north and west of Lake Superior on Saturday, and these chilly temperatures will be even more widespread across the region for Sunday. Some areas will struggle to even reach the freezing mark.
SEE ALSO: Large northwestern Ontario forest fire prompts evacuation
Cooler-than-seasonal temperatures are expected to dominate next week, and continue into the final week of May, as well.