Several weather alerts in effect for northwestern Ontario due to rain, freezing rain, flurries

More than a dozen weather alerts are in effect across northwestern Ontario due to heavy rainfall, freezing rain and flurries expected from Friday afternoon into Saturday night, with some areas under winter storm watches.

In the Thunder Bay and Atikokan areas, rainfall combined with melting snow is expected, according to the statements issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada on Friday. Between 10 and 20 millimetres of rain are possible.

"The frozen ground has a reduced ability to absorb this rainfall," said the statements. "With thunderstorms possible, local rainfall amounts could exceed 20 millimetres over some areas. The rain will transition to flurries Saturday night as temperatures drop to below freezing over the area."

The agency warned that localized flooding in low-lying areas and water pooling on roads is possible.

Meanwhile, communities further west are under winter storm watches, including Dryden, Ear Falls, Kenora, Fort Frances, Red Lake, and areas near Pikangikum First Nation. 

Total snowfall amounts near 15 centimetres are possible early Saturday morning into that night, with poor visibility, blowing snow and a risk of freezing rain, the statements say.

"A Colorado low could bring a wintry mix of precipitation across the region on Saturday. The precipitation is expected to begin as rain in some areas with amounts of 10 [or] 20 millimetres possible," said the statements.

"The rain is expected to become mixed with ice pellets or freezing rain, then transition to snow which could be heavy at times."

The Manitouwadge and Hornepayne areas, as well as Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout, Eabametoong First Nation and other communities further west, are under freezing rain warnings. These are set to end Friday afternoon, as the rain changes to showers with warming temperatures.

A full list of weather alerts can be found on Environment and Climate Change Canada's website.