Powerful storms prompt tornado warnings on the Prairies
theweathernetwork.com
Thursday, June 14, 2018, 10:16 PM - Severe thunderstorms continued charging across southern Manitoba late into Thursday evening, with severe thunderstorm warnings dotting the southern tier of the province. Meteorologists at The Weather Network are tracking storms as the focus for strong storms shifts east, with Environment Canada issuing warnings for parts of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba at various points of the afternoon and evening. Reports of very large hail, localized flooding, and power outages have also been filtering in from southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, along with some remarkable photos and video.
(DON'T MISS: TORNADO CONFIRMED AS STORMS FIRE UP ACROSS THE PRAIRIES)
All modes of severe weather remain possible Thursday evening in portions of southern Manitoba as storms continue to bubble up along a boundary hanging down through North Dakota. We take a look at the timing, threats and main areas at risk, below.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Watches and warnings remained in effect for southern Manitoba through the evening
- Cluster of storms will continue over southern Manitoba and the Interlake region Thursday night, with torrential rains, high winds, and hail the biggest concern
MANITOBA
Thunderstorm cells started firing through the mid-afternoon across southern Saskatchewan and northern North Dakota, prompting several severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. The atmosphere remains favourable for severe thunderstorm cells to develop through the evening and into the early part of the overnight, meaning this first wave of storms may not be all the activity we see tonight across the region.
The focus for severe storms through the evening heads through southern Manitoba. Many of the storms from this afternoon and the early evening were traveling ahead of the main boundary, which is now starting to cut through central North Dakota and across Manitoba. A line of severe storms associated with this boundary will continue to push eastward toward the Great Lakes through the overnight, bringing with it the risk for continuing strong storms, with hail, torrential rains, and the risk of isolated tornadoes.
Storms along this boundary - particularly those south of the border - are likely to form into a cluster of storms overnight, moving east into Minnesota. Along the northern edge of the boundary, we'll continue tracking storms through southern Manitoba and into northern Ontario through the overnight hours. Storms should clear southeastern Manitoba through the pre-dawn hours.
MUCH NEEDED RAIN
Something of a silver lining - thunderstorm development, especially in the overnight periods, will bring more widespread, and much needed, rain across southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. That said, even if tornadoes are less likely, with the amount of instability and wind shear in place, the region will still have to deal with the threat for large hail and strong winds.
The one certainty thus far is that storm development is expected near dusk with a large scale convective system impacting southern Manitoba through the evening and overnight. Those who plan on attending the Edmonton Eskimos at Winnipeg Blue Bombers game should keep a close eye on the forecast, as it will be a close call if storms will impact the game or not.
With files from Brad Rousseau.
