Provincial flood watches in effect as rain moves through northwestern Ontario

While a rainfall warning issued for Thunder Bay this week has ended, Environment Canada is still warning of heavy precipitation in other areas of the northwestern Ontario.

Rainfall warnings remain in effect for a number of areas, including:

• Atikokan
• Dryden
• Vermilion Bay
• Fort Frances
• Rainy River
• Kenora
• Grassy Narrows
• Sioux Narrows
• Nipigon
• Rossport
• Pickle Lake
• Ear Falls
• Sioux Lookout
• Kakabeka Falls

Fifty to 80 millimetres of rain, and winds gusting up to 70 kilometres per hour, are expected in those areas.

Rain and wind are expected to taper off later Wednesday.

The province, meanwhile, has issued flood watches for the Thunder Bay, Ignace, Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and Atikokan areas.

People in those areas should "keep a close watch on upcoming weather forecasts and local water conditions as water levels and flows are currently high," the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said. "Residents should also exercise caution around less travelled roads, lakes, rivers and areas of high runoff potential."

The flood watch for the Thunder Bay-Ignace area is expected to be in effect until noon Thursday, unless it's extended.

Flood watches for the other areas are expected to last until early next week, the MNRF said.

The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA)also issued a flood watch for its service areas, which includes Thunder Bay, Neebing, Oliver Paipoonge, Shuniah, O'Connor, Conmee, Gillies and Dorion.

The LRCA flood watch was issued Tuesday, and the agency said it will remain in effect until noon Wednesday.