Southern Manitoba was hit by a wild night of storms, with monsoon-like downpours, one confirmed tornado, and vehicles abandoned on flooded roads. The town of Stonewall was the hardest hit, with over 255mm of rain reported as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). This is a significant amount of rainfall, and it has caused the sewage system to run at or near capacity, with the town urging residents to limit unnecessary water use.
The Interlake School Division, which stretches from just north of Winnipeg up to Teulon, east to Stony Mountain and west to Woodlands, has closed all schools on Wednesday due to flooding. Several schools are reported to be flooded, and the town of Stonewall is dealing with seepage and flooding in some areas.
Winnipeg was also drenched with 117mm of rain, recorded at The Forks, with inundated basements, impassable streets, and engulfed underpasses. Many weather stations in the province reported over 50mm of rain, and wind gusts clocked at 130km/h in the Deloraine area, near the Saskatchewan border. There was also hail, ranging from the size of nickels to tennis balls in parts of Winnipeg, while some rural areas saw hailstones the size of baseballs.
The one tornado confirmed as of Wednesday morning touched down in the Ste. Anne area, southeast of Winnipeg, but many others are being investigated in the region. Numerous funnel clouds were also reported, and the weather system started south of Emerson in the U.S. and moved north through Manitoba. Although no possible tornado sightings were reported in Winnipeg, the city was under threat due to thunderstorms that were rotating violently.
The storms have caused power outages, flooded basements, and damaged power lines and poles. Manitoba Hydro is bringing in additional staff to relieve firefighters and police in Winnipeg who are guarding scenes where live wires have fallen. The Crown corporation is also working to restore power to affected areas, but the extent of the damage and the restoration times are uncertain.
The rain was not as bad in western Manitoba, where severe flooding has impacted the municipalities of Swan Valley West and Minitonas-Bowsman since Sunday. The weather system has brought a state of emergency to western Manitoba, with residents stranded and roads washed out. The infrastructure minister has stated that everyone is safe, but the flooding has caused significant damage to infrastructure.
In conclusion, Southern Manitoba has experienced a wild night of storms with significant rainfall, flooding, and a confirmed tornado. The town of Stonewall and the city of Winnipeg have been particularly affected, with power outages, flooded basements, and damaged infrastructure. The weather system has also caused a state of emergency in western Manitoba, with residents stranded and roads washed out. It is important to note that the storms are not over yet, and there are still thunderstorm watches and warnings issued for the southeast.
