Rainfall warning puts Thunder Bay and Kakabeka Falls on washout watch before a sunny Friday

Another 50 mm is possible through Thursday before a sharp temperature drop and a sunny Friday

THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Nov. 4, 2026 – Weather – Heavy rain is the dominant weather and travel hazard for Thunder Bay and Kakabeka Falls Wednesday. Environment Canada says saturated ground will have less capacity to absorb another round of rain, raising the risk of ponding and washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

Heading into the Newsroom today, the rain at 5:00am was pouring down. Red River Road looked almost like a pair of small creeks with serious rain causing the water to flow.

A yellow rainfall warning with moderate impact and high forecast confidence remained in effect at the 5:28 a.m. EST desk check. It called for about 50 mm of additional rain through Thursday and multi-day totals near 80 mm, with locally higher amounts possible. Some locations received as much as 50 mm from the earlier system Monday and Monday night.

At Thunder Bay Airport, light rain, 11.9 C and eight-kilometre visibility were reported at 2:18 a.m. EST, the latest observation reviewed before publication.

Wednesday: Heavy rain and rising runoff

Thunder Bay stays near 10 C in rain that is heavy at times. Environment Canada forecasts 30 to 40 mm during the day, with a northeast wind of 20 km/h becoming light early in the afternoon. Another 10 to 20 mm falls Wednesday night as north winds rise to 20 km/h with gusts to 40. The overnight low is 3 C.

Kakabeka Falls also stays near 10 C with 30 to 40 mm by day and another 10 to 20 mm at night. The north wind reaches 30 km/h with gusts to 50 Wednesday night and the low is 2 C. Drivers on Highway 11/17 and rural roads should expect standing water and reduced visibility in heavier rain.

Thursday: Rain eases as colder air arrives

Thunder Bay is cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of rain and a high of 6 C. Kakabeka Falls has the same rain chance and reaches 4 C. Thursday night brings a 40 per cent chance of flurries or rain showers, with lows of -4 C in Thunder Bay and -6 C at Kakabeka Falls. Wet surfaces may freeze as temperatures fall below zero.

Friday: Sunshine and a cold start

Friday is sunny with highs near 6 C in Thunder Bay and 4 C at Kakabeka Falls. Friday night is clear and cold, with lows near -4 C in the city and -8 C at Kakabeka Falls.

Wardrobe

Choose a hooded waterproof shell, waterproof footwear and visible outerwear for the dark commute. Keep an extra dry layer available. Add gloves Thursday night and Friday morning, when the rapid temperature drop will make damp clothing uncomfortable and untreated wet surfaces may be icy.

Weather trivia

A culvert can become a flood bottleneck when leaves, branches or debris restrict its opening. Water then backs up faster than it can pass under the road, which is why washout warnings focus on creeks and drainage crossings.

Source note: Environment Canada Thunder Bay forecast and warning; Environment Canada Kakabeka Falls forecast and warning; Environment Canada climate almanac