Water levels appear to be hitting their peak, but flood warnings remain in Thunder Bay
Homes, roads in some areas of the city inaccessible says Lakehead Region Conservation Authority
The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority has updated its flood warning for the Thunder Bay area, after another nine to 19 millimetres of rain fell overnight in the region.
It said the high water continues, but it appears to have reached its peak.
The conservation authority said anywhere from 34 to 50 millimetres of rain have fallen over the last two days, with area rivers and streams running fast. Though those watercourses remain high, they appear to have peaked by Friday morning, according to a news release from the conservation authority.
The warning, issued Thursday morning, includes the City of Thunder Bay, Neebing, Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah, O'Connor, Conmee, Gillies and Dorion.
WATCH | Take a look at some of the high water in Thunder Bay:
This comes amid record spring flooding across Canada, with widespread flooding in communities in the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario.
In the Thunder Bay area, little or no rain is in the forecast for nearly a week, giving the area some time to dry out.
Sections of highways across northwestern Ontario have been closed at times this week after being swamped with water.
- Use the interative map to see the latest information on highway closures
In a media release Thursday, the City of Thunder Bay said sections of a number of roads have been closed due to flooding:
- 15th Side Road.
- Trendiak Road.
- Law Road.
- Community Hall Road.
- Gus Wuori Road.
- Burns Road.
- Melbourne Road.
- Ada Avenue.
The city said residents in those areas may not be able to access their homes and will need to find alternate accommodations. Anyone still in their homes in those areas should remain there and call 911 in case of emergency.
The city also reported significant flooding on:
- Coppin Road.
- Chippewa Road.
- Broadway Avenue.
- Rosslyn Road.
- Mountain Road.
- Loch Lomond Road.
- Little Norway Road.
- Hazelwood Drive.
- Gorevale Road.
Those roads should be avoided if possible, the city said.
The city also said some trails will be closed due to flooding, including those that run along the Current River.
All waterways are being monitored, it said.
A flood warning is issued when flooding is "imminent or occurring," the conservation authority said. The warning was expected to remain in place until Friday at noon.
People are advised to use caution around area waterways.