Local News
Winnipeg added to severe thunderstorm warning as heavy hail hits city
The first severe thunderstorm warning of the season is currently in effect for Winnipeg and surrounding regions. Environment Canada issued a warning for the RM of Rosser and the surrounding area around 3:20 p.m. The RM neighbours Winnipeg on the city's northwest. Meteorologists say the storm could produce winds up to 90 km/h and nickel-sized hail. Just after 4:30 p.m. the City of Winnipeg also received a warning. A storm near Assiniboia tracking southeast is also capable of producing winds upward of 90 km/h. Residents in the area sent in messages describing heavy hail so powerful that it peeled paint off windowsills and covered the ground in a blanket of hailstones. The latest details from Environment Canada are below. From Environment Canada At 4:37 p.m. CDT, Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to nickel size hail and heavy rain. This severe thunderstorm is located 5 kilometres east of Assiniboia, moving southeast at 20 km/h. Hazard: 90 km/h wind gusts and nickel size hail. Locations impacted include: Winnipeg, Fort Garry and St. Boniface. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors! Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to MBstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #MBStorm. More details on the alert are available here.