It looks unlikely ice gone by opening day

 We got the warm rain that turned the ice black but we still need clear, sunny, hot days to melt it. Instead it has been cloudy. I'm back to thinking ice-out will be May 22, maybe even later. A rip-roaring wind could do the trick but that is something we seldom see in the spring. 

It is still possible, however. You must realize all of us here are pretty jaded when it comes to optimism about the weather after the winter we just had.

Now many people in Northwestern Ontario have bigger problems on their hands than just a late ice-out. There is flooding occurring everywhere. Highway 105 has been closed for about a week with multiple washouts. At this moment cars can get through but not transports.

Dams and bridges are under threat. States of emergencies have been declared in many towns, including Red Lake. Just upstream from Thunder Bay in Stanley the Kaministiquia River, the largest river in the region, is spilling over its banks and threatening homes. Two large islands in the center of the river at the Stanley Bridge are underwater. 

I expect the Whitefish River in Nolalu to overtop Old Mill Road where we live tonight. It is already flooding downstream at Hymers. Whitefish Valley School there was let out early today due to the threat ening water level. We will be fine at our house. We are located about 100 feet above the river.

All of this is caused by the exceptional snow depth we had last winter, then the rapid warming starting in May and finally, storms that are bringing an inch or two of rain every couple of days.