Emergency sirens wailed briefly in Fort Frances on Wednesday night after Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for Rainy River District around 10 p.m.
The sirens were sounded to warn residents to prepare for the possibility of a tornado hitting.
“We had a tornado warning, which is one up from [a] watch, which means tornadoes are happening or very close to happening,” Fort Frances Fire Chief Steve Richardson noted Thursday morning.
“There were some high winds in some areas of the district but my understanding is no tornadoes touched down,” he added.
The tornado warning later was downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning.
When the sirens sound, residents are urged to tune in to CFOB here or KBHW (FM 99.5) in International Falls to listen for updates and safety measures.
While Fort Frances received about 1.8 cm (0.7 inches) of rain overnight, the storm appeared to have dropped more water in the west end of the district.
“We had about two inches of rain. I checked out our roads and we had one little wash-out but that’s it,” noted Bill Penney, superintendent of public works for Morley Township.
“I guess we were lucky.”
Heavy rains also missed Atikokan to the relief of residents there after at least 50 homes suffered flooded basements when drainage sewers flooded in the wake of Monday night’s downpour.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
