THUNDER BAY - Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the city of Thunder Bay.
Over 50 millimetres of rain is expected from early Thursday morning into Friday morning.
The system is moving northeast from the northerneastern Minnesota region into the western area of Lake Superior, and producing a large pressure system that is unusual for this time of year, Environment Canada warning preparedness meteorologist Geoff Coulson said.
“The western part of Lake Superior that includes the Thunder Bay area is tied to a system more like one we usually see in the fall,” Coulson said on Wednesday.
“In terms of when the heaviest rainfall is expected, we’re expecting the most during the day on Thursday.”
The heavy rainfall is good news for the region's escalating forest fire situation.
“It could certainly provide some relief to the fires in the surrounding regions of Lake Superior,” Coulson said. “Certainly any fires close to the lake should be feeling the effect of the amount of rain we’re forecasting.”
As far as local flooding, Coulson said there is no reason to be overly concerned at the moment.
“At this point in time, as long as the rain is spread out over a number of hours, as it appears to be, and we’re still talking about 50 millimetres.”
Environment Canada is urging people to continue to monitor alerts and forecasts as the forecast continues.
