Possible tornado being investigated in Manitoba community
Environment Canada and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is investigating a possible tornado in Binscarth, Man. on Thursday night.
The weather agency said that it doesn’t have sufficient evidence yet to confirm the tornado, but meteorologists are investigating and looking for pictures of the suspected tornado or any damage it may have caused.
This news comes after a strong thunderstorm moved into Manitoba on Thursday night and into Friday morning. During this time, the storm brought large hail to several communities.
According to Environment Canada, Binscarth and Rossburn received baseball-sized hail that in some cases, broke windows and damaged sidings.
Those in Oakburn were hit with hail that ranged in size from golf balls to tennis balls, while Plumas and Clear Lake got toonie-sized hail.
Environment Canada reported that Sandy Lake received quarter-sized hail, and Waywayseecappo got nickel-sized hail.
Along with hail, the storm also brought heavy winds that reached over 100 km/h in some communities.
According to Environment Canada, Pilot Mound got winds as strong as 104 km/h, while in Russell and Clearwater, they reached 91 km/h. Manitou also experienced strong winds that got as fast as 89 km/h.
Those with information about the potential tornado in Binscarth or any severe weather event are asked to call 1-800-239-0484, email mbstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet with the hashtag #mbstorm.
'IT CAME RIGHT AT US'
Darcy Kowalchuk was at his home in Binscarth when ECCC issued a tornado warning for the community. Weather radar appeared to show the storm would track north of Binscarth, so Kowalchuk went outside to see what was brewing.
That’s when he spotted what looked like a super cell cloud.
“The giant cell seemed to pause and then it made a little turn, and it came right at us. You could see it developing its structure as time went on,” he recalled.
As it approached, he said the wind rapidly switched directions and the temperature changed.
“We prepared to go to the basement,” he said.
Kowalchuk watched the storm pass from the basement window, initially thinking it would miss them.
“Then the hail was at the back end of it,” he said, estimating golf ball to baseball-sized hail fell for almost five minutes.
Golf ball sized hail is pictured in Binscarth, Manitoba following a storm on June 23, 2022. (Twitter photo: Darcy Kowalchuk @DarcyKowalchuk)
The hail made big holes on the siding on the north side of his home, plus it took out a plastic skylight and a camper window.
A second storm later that night bringing heavy rain, wind and lightning didn’t help matters, either.
Kowalchuk said this is the second storm in five days in the area. He filmed them and others over the years and shared them on social media.
“Someone called me a storm chaser and I said, ‘well, that's not correct because I've videoed three weather events from my deck.’ It's not like I'm actually chasing them. They're chasing me,” he laughed.
- With files from CTV’s Tim Salzen.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.