THUNDER BAY – WEATHER DESK – Thursday, September 24, 2026 – Keep the rain gear close today if you are travelling across western Northwestern Ontario. Showers will bring 10 to 20 mm of rain to several communities before easing, while fog and drizzle may reduce visibility tonight and early Friday.
Friday will be milder, with highs near 19 C to 21 C, but clouds will remain across much of the region. Saturday stays unsettled, with showers possible in the west and north.
Thursday, September 24: Wettest in the West
Kenora, Grassy Narrows and Whitedog: Showers will end near noon, followed by cloud and a 40 per cent chance of more showers. Rainfall totals of 10 to 15 mm are expected. A south wind will increase to 20 km/h late this morning. The high will be 15 C. Tonight will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of drizzle, fog patches and a low of 13 C.
Dryden and Vermilion Bay: Showers will develop early this morning and end this afternoon, followed by a 40 per cent chance of more showers. Rainfall totals of 10 to 15 mm are expected. The south wind will reach 20 km/h. The high will be 14 C. Drizzle and fog patches are possible tonight, with a low of 12 C.
Sioux Lookout, Eastern Lac Seul, Savant Lake and Sturgeon Lake: Skies will turn cloudy, with a few showers beginning late this morning. South winds will reach 20 km/h. The high will be 14 C. Tonight brings a 40 per cent chance of drizzle, fog patches and a low of 12 C.
Red Lake, Ear Falls and Western Lac Seul: Red Lake showers should end near noon, but a 40 per cent chance of showers will remain. Ear Falls can expect showers through part of the day. Rainfall totals of 10 to 15 mm are forecast. South winds will reach 20 km/h, with highs near 14 C. Tonight will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of drizzle, fog patches and lows near 12 C.
Fort Frances, Emo and Rainy River: Showers will end near noon, followed by cloud and a 40 per cent chance of additional showers. Rainfall totals of 10 to 20 mm are expected. The south wind will reach 20 km/h and the high will be 15 C. Tonight brings a 40 per cent chance of drizzle, fog patches and a low of 11 C.
Atikokan and Quetico Park: Fog patches will clear this morning. There is a 60 per cent chance of afternoon showers, with south winds at 20 km/h and a high of 15 C. The chance of showers will fall from 60 to 40 per cent this evening. The overnight low will be 10 C.
Pickle Lake: Clouds will increase this morning, followed by a 60 per cent chance of afternoon showers. South winds will reach 20 km/h with gusts to 40. The high will be 16 C. Tonight will be cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of showers changing to a 30 per cent chance of drizzle. The low will be 12 C.
Friday, September 25: Milder but Mostly Cloudy
Friday will be warmer across Northwestern Ontario. Morning drizzle and fog may linger in the west before visibility improves.
- Kenora and Fort Frances: Cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of drizzle or showers. High 20 C, with a Humidex near 25 in Kenora and 26 in Fort Frances.
- Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Savant Lake, Red Lake and Ear Falls: Cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of morning drizzle and afternoon showers. High near 19 C.
- Atikokan and Quetico Park: Cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of morning drizzle. High 19 C.
- Pickle Lake: Mainly cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of morning drizzle. High 21 C.
Saturday, September 26: Clouds and Scattered Showers
Saturday remains unsettled. Kenora is expected to be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers and a high of 16 C. Fort Frances has a 30 per cent chance of showers with a high near 17 C.
Dryden should remain cloudy with a high near 18 C. Sioux Lookout and Red Lake are forecast to reach about 18 C to 19 C, with a 30 to 40 per cent chance of showers. Atikokan should be cloudy with a high near 17 C. Pickle Lake will be cloudy and warmer, with a high near 20 C.
Saturday night may bring a higher chance of showers to several western and northern districts. This part of the forecast has lower confidence and should be refreshed before publication.
Three-Day Forecast at a Glance
| Community | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenora and Lake of the Woods | Showers ending near noon; 40% chance after; 10-15 mm; high 15 C | Cloudy; 30% drizzle or showers; high 20 C | Cloudy; 40% chance of showers; high 16 C |
| Dryden and Vermilion Bay | Showers; 10-15 mm; south 20 km/h; high 14 C | Cloudy; 30% drizzle or showers; high 19 C | Cloudy; high near 18 C |
| Sioux Lookout and Savant Lake | A few showers; south 20 km/h; high 14 C | Cloudy; 30% drizzle or showers; high 19 C | Cloudy; 30% chance of showers; high near 19 C |
| Red Lake and Ear Falls | Showers; 10-15 mm; high 14 C | Cloudy; 30% drizzle or showers; high 19 C | Cloudy; 40% chance of showers; high near 18 C |
| Fort Frances, Emo and Rainy River | Showers ending near noon; 10-20 mm; high 15 C | Cloudy; 30% drizzle or showers; high 20 C | Cloudy; 30% chance of showers; high 17 C |
| Atikokan and Quetico Park | 60% chance of afternoon showers; high 15 C | Cloudy; 30% morning drizzle; high 19 C | Cloudy; high near 17 C |
| Pickle Lake | 60% chance of afternoon showers; gusts to 40 km/h; high 16 C | Mainly cloudy; 30% morning drizzle; high 21 C | Cloudy; high 20 C |
Travel Conditions: Wet Roads and Patchy Fog
Rain may create wet pavement and standing water along Highways 11, 17, 71, 72, 105, 502, 599 and nearby secondary roads. The expected totals are not extreme, but heavier bursts may briefly reduce visibility and increase stopping distances.
Fog and drizzle tonight and early Friday could reduce visibility around Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Ear Falls and Fort Frances. Drivers should use low-beam headlights, slow down and leave more space between vehicles.
Boating and Outdoor Work
South winds near 20 km/h may make exposed sections of Lake of the Woods, Lac Seul, Wabigoon Lake and other large inland lakes choppy. Conditions in sheltered bays can be much calmer than conditions on open water.
- Wear an approved personal flotation device and carry reliable communications.
- Check the local forecast and radar before leaving shore.
- Allow extra time to return before visibility falls in rain or fog.
- Outdoor crews should use care on wet ladders, roofs, docks and work platforms.
- Secure loose equipment in Pickle Lake, where gusts may reach 40 km/h.
School Bus Alert: RL3 Cancelled Because of Driver Shortage
Route RL3: cancelled from Wednesday, September 23 through Friday, September 25 because of a driver shortage.
This is an operational cancellation. It is not weather-related. The Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium status page listed no other route-specific alert when checked early Thursday. Families should still refresh the current school-bus alerts page before departure because updates can be posted quickly.
Sources Checked
- Environment Canada Northern Ontario forecast bulletin, issued at 5:30 a.m. EDT on September 24, 2026.
- Environment Canada active weather alerts.
- Environment Canada Kenora seven-day forecast.
- Environment Canada Sioux Lookout seven-day forecast.
- Environment Canada Red Lake seven-day forecast.
- Environment Canada Fort Frances seven-day forecast.
- Environment Canada Atikokan seven-day forecast.
- Environment Canada Pickle Lake seven-day forecast.
- Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium current alerts.
