People living in southern Manitoba may want to take extra precaution before venturing too far from home Thursday evening.
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for all of southern Manitoba and there is a slight possibility of tornadoes to develop. The watch covers areas as far north as Swan River, Grand Rapids and Poplar River as far south as Melita and Killarney.
The watch includes a warning of evening thunderstorms including large hail and high winds. A large area including Dauphin, Brandon and Winnipeg are affected by the watch.
By 5 p.m. some areas of western Manitoba were facing a severe thunderstorm warning, a grade above a severe thunderstorm watch. Environment Canada said a storm was moving 50 kilometres per hour from Saskatchewan into the area.
Environment Canada is advising people in all of southern Manitoba to listen for updated weather alerts and to take immediate safety precautions of threatening weather approaches.
The thunderstorm risk comes from low pressure tracking east through southern Manitoba. Officials said the thunderstorms have the potential to create large hail, damaging winds and “torrential downpours.”
Officials also noted there was a slight risk of tornadoes in the area.
Additional areas could be affected as the low pressure system tracks eastward later this evening.
It's not uncommon for thunderstorm watches to be issued when weather is extremely hot or humid.
