Ferocious winds with speeds reaching up to 133 km/h swept through southern Manitoba on Wednesday night, causing widespread damage including downed trees and power outages affecting thousands of residents.
In Ron Leclair’s yard, winds reaching 90 km/h brought down a large tree onto his fence and a nearby power line, a scene he described as reminiscent of a tornado due to its intense force.
According to meteorologist Terri Lang from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Brandon experienced the highest wind speeds in the province at 133 km/h, with Souris recording 113 km/h, Portage la Prairie at 106 km/h, and Winnipeg at 91 km/h.
Lang reported a staggering 2,916 lightning strikes within a 50-kilometer radius of Winnipeg overnight, contributing to the power outages that affected numerous areas in southern Manitoba.
Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura disclosed that at the peak of the outages, more than 30,000 customers were without power, with Health Sciences Centre also experiencing an outage overnight.
Efforts are underway to restore power safely and swiftly, but the damage is extensive, with snapped poles, fallen trees on power lines, and even incidents such as a tree landing on a gas meter in the Westwood area resulting in a gas leak.
Outages are spreading outward from the city, affecting areas like Portage la Prairie, Treherne, and St. Adolphe, with significant concentrations in southern Winnipeg neighborhoods such as Charleswood, Waverley Heights, and St. Vital.
Manitoba Hydro anticipates that some customers may continue to be without power into Thursday night as crews work to assess and address the widespread damage caused by the powerful storm.
Arborist Pierre Duguay reported a surge in calls for tree cleanup services, with a notable increase in activity from areas south of Winnipeg and in various neighborhoods within the city, reflecting the unusually busy storm season this summer.
Environment Canada’s Lang attributed the heightened storm activity to the combination of high heat, humidity, and evapotranspiration from crops, creating conditions conducive to severe weather events.
The aftermath of the storm prompted nearly 700 calls for assistance in cleaning up fallen trees and debris, with reports of traffic signal malfunctions and other issues across the city.
Residents affected by the storm can request cleanup services through the city’s online form, as cleanup efforts continue in impacted areas like St. Norbert, where residents are assessing and addressing the damage left behind by the intense winds.