Powerful thunderstorms ripped through Southern Manitoba Wednesday night, delivering strong winds, hail, and a lot of rain.
Meteorologist Keane Kokolsky of Environment Canada says it originated as a low-pressure system in Montana, which drew in a hot, humid air mass over Southern Manitoba.
According to Manitoba Agriculture, the highest rainfall total as of Thursday at 8 am, was in Portage, with 98.5 millimetres (mm), or nearly four inches. In the southeast, Zhoda received the most rain with 73.7 mm. Rain gauges in Steinbach showed 40.3 mm. Manitoba Agriculture is reporting the following rainfall totals for the southeast:
- Zhoda - 73.7 mm
- St. Adolphe - 52.7 mm
- Richer - 42.6 mm
- Steinbach - 40.3 mm
- Marchand - 35.1 mm
- St. Pierre - 28.4 mm
- St. Labre - 22.8 mm
- Rosa - 17.6 mm
- Dugald - 13.2 mm
- Sprague Lake - 13.1 mm
- Beausejour - 10.2 mm
- Elma - 8.6 mm
- Vivian - 7.9 mm
- Prawda - 7.8 mm
- Gardenton - 7.8 mm
- Lac du Bonnet - 6.0 mm
- Stead - 4.4 mm
- Dominion City - 1.9 mm
Elsewhere, we have also received reports of 64 mm in Niverville and 45 mm in Mitchell.
Kokolsky adds that while there was potential for tornadic storms in southwestern Manitoba, none developed as expected.
Along with the rain, many regions saw a blast of hail. Reports confirm hailstones reaching up to the size of a Toonie in the Oakville area.
"Definitely there was some very large hail around the area; near Carman, near Notre Dame, we did have golf balls there as well," he says.
The storm also resulted in power outages, particularly in Winnipeg.
Looking ahead, Kokolsky says the cold front sweeping through late this morning, and early afternoon could trigger more severe weather, though less intense than overnight.
"Probably some more development for severe weather again this afternoon with the threats being some larger hail and some strong gusty winds and of course, some rainfall," he explains.
Kokolsky notes the system will begin to move off to the east later today and bring in some cooler, more seasonal weather.
In Steinbach, Environment Canada is calling for a high of 25 degrees, which is normal for this time of year. However, it looks like temperatures will be well below average this weekend, with highs of 21 degrees on Friday, and then 19 degrees for both Saturday and Sunday.
With files from Cory Knutt