THUNDER BAY – Weather is likely to dominate the news in Thunder Bay on Thursday. A great deal of the region is under a heavy rainfall warning. Environment Canada reports, “A slow-moving cold front that crossed Northwestern Ontario last night brought near 20 mm to many of the warned regions”.
The Weather Service reports, “An active disturbance developing over Kansas will track northeastwards along the front today reaching the western end of Lake Superior towards evening. There will be a break in the rain this morning before the organized heavier rain associated with the low settles in this afternoon. Additional rainfall amounts of 25 to locally 40 mm are likely before it ends late tonight”.
The rainfall amounts are likely to cause creeks, rivers and streams in the Thunder Bay region to be flowing at a very fast level, and caution should be observed near them.
A thunder storm on Wednesday afternoon rumbled through the city not only knocking out power across much of the north side of Thunder Bay, but also saw a lightning strike hit the top of the Hydro building on Cumberland Street. That impact showered the parking lot on the St. Paul Street side of the building with debris and damaged several cars.
Workers were evacuated from the building following the impact of the lightning strike.
During the Enter the Den finals being broadcast live on NetNewsledger, the impact of the storm resulted in the Internet being knocked down for about two minutes. The event was being broadcast from Superior Collegiate during the school’s track meet. Outdoor events at the school were impacted, but students attending classes were not impacted.