UPDATE - Tornado Watch ended across Southern Manitoba

Updated at 8:03pm Wednesday, June 28th - as of shortly after 8pm Wednesday evening the Tornado Watch was ended for all regions of Southern Manitoba.

For the remainder of the evening there is a small chance of additional showers or thunderstorms, but additional severe weather is not expected. The overnight low will reach around 16.

Be sure to check back Thursday morning for a full recap of precipitation totals with our PembinaValleyOnline Rainwatchers.

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PV RCMP seeking public assistance in finding witnesses to damaging incident

Pembina Valley RCMP are looking for public assistance in identifying possible witnesses to an act of mischief that took place on May 31st between 7:30 and 8 am near the intersections of Highway 243 and 521 in the RM of Rhineland. 

A speed reader sign and the attached solar panel were damaged extensively located in the school zone near Border Valley School. Video footage captured 3 possible North and Southbound witness vehicles passing by at the time of the incident.

Whooping cough outbreak declared in Southern Health-Santé Sud as cases continue to be reported

A whooping cough outbreak has been declared in Southern Health-Santé Sud.

According to Manitoba Health, there have been 154 confirmed or probable cases of whooping cough reported in our province since January. Of those, 152 were reported in this regional health authority. 

Most of the cases have involved children between the ages of one and nine. The age range of cases includes:

Smiles across Rainwatchers faces with some regions seeing first rain in weeks Thursday

You could hear the smiles spreading across faces throughout the Pembina and Red River Valleys Thursday morning as raindrops pattered against windows and roofs. Even though there have been spotty showers and thunderstorms over the past several weeks, large pockets of the region hadn't received measurable precipitation in two to three weeks.

It was a scorcher, yesterday! How hot did it get? And rain for the weekend?

For parts of the Pembina and Red River Valley, it was one of the hottest days of the year Tuesday, with temperatures soaring into the mid to upper 30s, as a very hot and moist airmass from the southern U.S. was pushed into the region by a strong upper southerly flow.

"We have already had a number of days when temperatures have surpassed 30 degrees, and we are just past mid-June," noted CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. "We typically see our hottest weather in July and August, but yesterday was yet another taste of that, but several weeks early."

Your guide to the Portage-Lisgar by-election on Monday, June 19th

Monday, June 19th is election day in the Portage-Lisgar by-election. Eligible voters will have the chance to cast their ballot for one of five candidates vying to be the region's Member of Parliament. Below you can find details regarding Monday's election, and links to further resources to help you place your vote.

Why is there a by-election?
The by-election was prompted when former Portage-Lisgar M.P. Candice Bergen resigned her seat earlier this year. The by-election was announced Sunday, May 14th, with Monday, June 19th set as election day.

Portage-Lisgar candidates answer local questions ahead of by-election - Green Party's Nic Geddert

As part of our coverage leading up to the Portage-Lisgar by-election June 19th, we have provided an opportunity to each of the five candidates on the ballot to answer five questions related to issues impacting residents across the riding. Over the course of this week, we will be publishing the answers provided by the candidates, as sent to us.

Below are the answers from Green Party of Canada candidate Nic Geddert.

Portage-Lisgar candidates answer local questions ahead of by-election - NDP's Lisa Tessier-Burch

As part of our coverage leading up to the Portage-Lisgar by-election June 19th, we have provided an opportunity to each of the five candidates on the ballot to answer five questions related to issues impacting residents across the riding. Over the course of this week, we will be publishing the answers provided by the candidates, as sent to us.

Below are the answers from the NDP's candidate Lisa Tessier-Burch.

Portage-Lisgar candidates answer local questions ahead of election - Liberal Party of Canada's Kerry Smith

As part of our coverage leading up to the Portage-Lisgar by-election June 19th, we have provided an opportunity to each of the five candidates on the ballot to answer five questions related to issues impacting residents across the riding. Over the course of this week, we will be publishing the answers provided by the candidates, as sent to us.

Below are the answers from Liberal Party of Canada candidate Kerry Smith.

Total fire ban now in place in Morden, Winkler and R.M. of Stanley

A total fire and burn ban is now in place in Winkler, Morden and the R.M. of Stanley. The Winkler Fire Department and Morden Fire and Rescue announced the move Tuesday.

Morden Fire and Rescue Chief Andy Thiessen told PembinaValleyOnline, due to dry conditions and no significant rainfall in the forecast, a complete fire ban is now in effect.