A tornado was confirmed to have touched down near a community in southwestern Manitoba on Sunday by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The tornado was sighted close to Elkhorn, Man., approximately 300 kilometers west of Winnipeg, at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to Environment Canada. Reports of the tornado came in through the RCMP and social media channels.
Environment Canada is working in conjunction with the Northern Tornadoes Project to conduct further investigations and will release more details once a preliminary assessment is completed. Storm damage was recorded in the Manitoba community of Kola, just south of Elkhorn, as confirmed by Environment Canada meteorologist Shannon Moodie in an interview with CBC News on Monday.
Moodie mentioned that it is plausible the tornado near Elkhorn originated near Kola, raising the possibility of either two separate tornadoes or a single one. The Northern Tornadoes Project highlighted the uncertainty, stating that there might be more tornadoes involved.
A local farmer near Kola shared that his family would be making decisions on Monday regarding whether to rebuild, as most of their structures, including a hay shed, were damaged during the storm. The farmer, Kelvin Siemens, described the intense rain and the devastation that followed, with most buildings being destroyed while their house remained intact. Siemens expressed determination in rebuilding to some extent, despite the challenges posed by the damage.
The region has experienced a wet summer, with previous heavy rainfall events. Kola received approximately 74 millimeters of rain on Sunday, while other areas like St-Lazare and Duck Mountain Provincial Park also saw significant rainfall, as reported by Moodie.
In addition to the tornado near Elkhorn, another tornado was confirmed near Maryfield, Sask., while a possible tornado was reported near Kelso, Sask., though further evidence is required for verification. Parts of Manitoba are expected to have showers and isolated thunderstorms on Monday, as the weather system responsible for the recent storms begins to dissipate.
Residents in the affected areas are coming together to assess the damage and plan for recovery, as highlighted by local community members. Dwayne Hohmann, division manager of the Twin Valley Co-op in Elkhorn, emphasized the importance of community support and resilience in moving forward after the storm.