Hey everyone! There is a strong potential for severe storms on Friday Night generally between 4 PM and Midnight. These storms will have the potential for severe hail and deadly winds. If camping in the BWCA next weekend keep an eye on the forecast. I will update this post tomorrow.

UPDATE: The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded us to a Level 2 (Yellow) risk for severe storms on Friday evening. The storms will be capable of producing hail up to ping-pong ball sized hail and winds over 60 Miles Per hour. The storms will arrive in the western BWCA between 2 PM and 5 PM. They will arrive in the Eastern BWCA between 3 PM and 6 PM. Please be safe and keep an eye on the weather. I will post another update tonight or tomorrow morning.

UPDATE: Nothing has changed from previous update, however I have some additional details on timing and strength for the storms Friday Night. The severe storms will likely enter the Western Boundary Waters between 6 PM and 8 PM. They will then enter the Eastern Boundary Waters between 6:30 PM and 9 PM. These storms could last through the early morning hours on Saturday. The severe storms will have the capability of producing severe hail up to Ping Pong ball size and damaging or deadly wind gusts up to 70 Miles Per Hour. If you have a BWCA trip planned for Friday night, consider altering your plans. Stay safe.

UPDATE: This is an urgent update for the severe storm potential tonight. Forecast models are coming into agreement that severe storms will impact the BWCA between 6 PM tonight and 4 AM tomorrow morning. Winds from these storms COULD be in excess of 70 Miles per hour (112 Kilometers per hour) and hail has the potential to be larger than 1 inch (2.54 cm). If you are planning on camping in the BWCA, PLEASE consider altering your plans until these storms pass. Winds over 50 Miles per hour have been known to be deadly for campers in the BWCA. DON'T TAKE UNNECESSARY RISKS!!! Stay safe!

The severe weather situation just went from bad to worse! This is word for word a Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued by Environment Canada for Quetico tonight (words in parentheses are mine):

"Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for:

Atikokan - Shebandowan - Quetico Park
Upsala - Raith
Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and damaging hail.

Hazards:
Hail 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) in diameter.
Damaging wind gusts to 100 km/h (Roughly 65 Miles Per Hour) . Isolated gusts to 120 km/h (Roughly 75 Miles Per Hour) possible.
A tornado or two are possible.

Where:
Portions of northwestern Ontario including Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, and Atikokan.

When:
Later this afternoon and evening.

Discussion:
Thunderstorms are expected to develop later this afternoon and may become severe with large hail and damaging winds. There is also a risk of a tornado. The thunderstorm risk will end later this evening after a cold front passes through the region.

Very large hail can damage property, break windows, dent vehicles and cause serious injury. Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!

Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches."

As you can see, the wind forecasts look scary, but don't forget the hail. 2 inch diameter hail can seriously injure anyone it hits. Also note that tornados have entered the equation. Looks like a wild night for the BWCA and Quetico!