WINNIPEG -- Southwest Manitoba was hit with a severe storm on Sunday night, leaving damage, flooding, and a tornado in its wake.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued the following rainfall totals for the past 24 hours. The agency also said the rainfall in Brandon set a single-day record.
- Brandon City: up to 140 mm;
- Brandon to Minnedosa (rural areas): up to 150 mm in some areas;
- Rivers: 135 mm;
- Newdale: 112 mm; and
- Alonsa: 120 mm.
Some areas in the region saw much less rainfall – under 50 mm -- which ECCC said is not unusual for thunderstorms.
Source: Facebook/Tracey M Hales
ECCC confirmed that a rain-wrapped tornado briefly touched down near Rapid City. It added there were snapped trees and property damage in the area. It is continuing to investigate.
HIGHWAY CLOSURES
The storm has also forced the following highway closures:
- Highway 25 from Highway 10 to the town of Rivers;
- A section of Highway 16A, between the junction of Highway 16 and 10;
- Highway 10 from Highway 1 to Highway 25;
- Highway 10 from Minnedosa to Highway 45;
- Highway 24 from Rapid City to Highway 250; and
- Highway 1 at the eastbound lanes at Highway 10 in Brandon;
- Highway 19 from Highway 10 to the entrance gate of Riding Mountain National Park;
- The eastbound and westbound lanes on Highway 1 between Highway 10 and Highway 110 in Brandon;
- Highway 270, three kilometres south of Rapid City.
POWER OUTAGES
According to Manitoba Hydro, about 4,000 customers are without power because of the storm, but flooding delayed restoration.
The Crown corporation is currently working to fix a transmission line in order to power four substations.
Hydro expects power to be restored to most customers by midday on Monday, though customers in rural areas won’t have their power back until the evening.
It intends to have power back to everyone by the end of the day.
Several Manitobans have taken to social media to post about the impact of the storm:
The City of Brandon posted on Twitter Monday afternoon that public works staff are busy clearing catch basins, cleaning up storm debris, and using pumps to remove standing water. Residents are being asked to clear debris away from catch basins in their neighbourhood, and put the debris in green bins or garbage bins.
The city is also asking the public to avoid driving around the town to see the impact of the storm while crews are working.
“You will only be in the way & unnecessary vehicles have potential to create damaging wave action or become stalled in the road,” the tweet reads.
Residents of Brandon who need sandbags are able to access empty bags and sand at the Civic Services Complex (900 Richmond Avenue East).
- With files from CTV’s Tim Salzen and Stephanie Tsicos.
