The same tornado that destroyed homes on Long Plain First Nation was the same one that touched down on a nearby Hutterite Colony.
Environment Canada released an updated weather summary on the Long Plain tornado that formed during a devastating storm Wednesday that also produced significant wind damage.
The “exceptional” storm left a 10-20 kilometre-wide swath of straight-line wind damage over the region, in addition to the nine kilometre-long line of damage caused by the tornado.
Winds up to 140 kilometres per hour were reported in some areas.
READ MORE: Manitoba Hydro crews restoring power after Wednesday’s storm
The tornado, which lasted 15 minutes, touched down around 6:55 p.m. in Long Plain First Nation.
Moving 30-50 km/h, it tore one house off its foundation and the roof off another house. It also snapped power lines, uprooted trees, and flipped a truck over on its side and a small RV onto its roof.
Moving east, it leapt over the Assiniboine River and landed in the southern part of the New Rosedale Hutterite Colony, where it crushed grain bins and destroyed other buildings.
The tornado scattered debris over nearby farm fields, finally lifting near Highway 240 around 7:10 p.m.
Based on the damage, Environment Canada gave the tornado a preliminary rating of EF-1, estimating its wind speeds at up to 150 km/h. Environment Canada is still talking to witnesses and said there is some evidence of higher wind speeds, which could affect the rating.
The aftermath
Three days after a vicious tornado spun through Long Plain First Nation, the devastation it left on homes in that community still looks fresh.
"It will be a while before we get back to normal, some houses have been ripped up pretty bad so we got to find places for people to live," said Warren Merrick, a volunteer firefighter from Long Plain.
Some who were fortunate in escaping damage are now helping prepare food others without power.
Long Plain is also under a boil water advisory forcing people to collect drinking water supplied by the Canadian Red Cross and other neighbouring communities.
The community's chief says it could months before home are repaired and families can move back home.
-With files from Emad Agahi
READ MORE: Violent winds rip roof from Beausejour dairy barn
