Severe Thunderstorms rumbled across Southern Manitoba Thursday afternoon, evening and overnight into Friday morning. Very strong storms developed in southeastern Saskatchewan Thursday afternoon, and those moved into
southwestern Manitoba mid afternoon, with the strongest storm cells along the International border.
One storm triggered multiple Tornado Warnings in the Estevan region, eastward to the Manitoba border, and then once it arrived in Manitoba, Tornado Warnings were issued early in the evening for the Boissevain and Killarney regions. According to Environment Canada’s storm summary, there has been one confirmed tornado touchdown, and that was near Waskada around 7:25 p.m. The weather service’s meteorologists are looking for pictures of any potential damage and other reports related to the twister in order to determine its strenght. You can call 1-800-239-0484 to share.
Meanwhile, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were also issued for a large portion of Southern Manitoba, with significant rainfall and large hail reported in some areas. Just before 7 p.m. there was a report of softball sized hail at Ninette. There were reports of quarter to golf ball sized hail in the Manitou, Morden and Winkler area, quarter sized in Hartney, Minto and Swan Lake. Toonie sized hail was reported in the Baldur region. Loonie sized hail fell in La Riviere according to eyewitness storm reports.
As for rainfall amounts:
Morden - 2.1 inches
Somerset - 1.8 inches
Winnipeg at The Forks – 1.7 inches
Winnipeg at the Airport , Carman, Manitou – 1 inch
Gretna, Pilot Mound - 9/10ths
Winkler, Gnadenthal, Woodmore - 8/10ths
Altona, Emerson, South of Morden, North of Horndean – 7/10ths
Elm Creek – 6/10ths
Dominion City, Lowe Farm – 4/10ths
The highest reported rainfall amount was in the Belmont region in Southwestern Manitoba where approximately 75 millimeters (three inches) of rain fell.
The system which brought the storm weather will move out the province later this morning in the Red River Valley and Southeastern Manitoba, with sunshine expected and daytime highs in the 25 to 27 degree range.
Pics below include submissions from Edith Brunn, Tammy MacDonald, Brayden Friesen, Katharina Harms and Dylan Hesom.