Strong winds, high water levels lead to flooding along western shores of Lake Winnipeg
People living in and around Gimli, Man. are cleaning up after high lake levels and heavy winds caused flooding along the western shores of Lake Winnipeg.
The situation sent waves crashing onto lakefront properties and swamped some popular destinations over the weekend, prompting calls for a better warning system to respond to similar situations in the future.
“We were looking at the clouds and they were massive,” said Gimli resident Penny Ross. “I’ve never seen big clouds like that. They were really black. They were like a monster coming towards you.”
Ross was surveying the damage Monday with her mom, after photos circulated on social media showing the Gimli seawall and harbour flooded.
Fortunately, the water had receded amid shifting and calmer winds.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said heavy winds over a sustained period of time caused lake water to pile up on shore - a phenomenon known as a seiche.
“If the lake levels are high, then of course it can gush on shore and cause issues, which is what seems to have happened there,” said ECCC Meteorologist Terri Lang.
Properties on Willow Island were among the hardest hit. Some residents of the area just south of Gimli told CTV News Winnipeg they received little to no warning from local officials about the impact of the storm on their homes and on the roads on the island.
“They would like us to try and get some kind of a warning out on our website which our administration is going to work on,” said Lynn Greenberg, mayor of the R.M. of Gimli.
Greenberg said some properties were damaged and basements flooded because of the rain and wind, but he couldn’t immediately provide an exact number.
He said he’s concerned about the impact of the high lake levels because of the potential for more severe weather throughout the remainder of summer and fall.
“It’s never a good scene when somebody gets flooded,” Greenberg said.
The lake currently sits more than 717 feet above sea level, which is more than two feet above its recommended maximum operating range.
It is a factor Ross worries could cause more problems.
“We haven’t had it this high, well none of us can remember seeing the lake this high because we’ve had so much water this year that it just keeps on expanding and expanding,” Ross said.
The province said in a statement its Emergency Coordination Centre is responding to the unprecedented flooding across Manitoba and continues to support municipalities in their flood fighting and recovery efforts.
A provincial spokesperson said municipalities are responsible for giving support and direction to their residents.
No damage estimates from the winds in Gimli were immediately available.
The province said a Disaster Financial Assistance program has already been set up to ensure flood relief’s available.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.