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A tornado warning has been issued for a part of western Manitoba, as much of the province’s south remains under a severe thunderstorm watch for Tuesday night.
As of 3:38 p.m., meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm possibly producing a tornado in an area to the east and northeast of Riding Mountain National Park, Environment and Climate Change Canada said in an alert.
The storm is northeast of the community of Laurier, about 125 kilometres north of Brandon, and is moving northeast at 30 kilometres per hour, the warning says, producing a “very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.”
Anyone who sees threatening weather approaching should take immediate cover in a basement, interior room or a sturdy shelter, Environment Canada’s warning says.
Most of southern Manitoba is under a severe thunderstorm watch on Tuesday, while a smaller portion, shown in red, is under a tornado warning. (Environment and Climate Change Canada)
Those without shelter should lie in a low spot and cover their heads to protect from flying debris when threatening weather approaches.
Anyone in the water when threatening weather nears should return to shore and seek shelter if possible. If not, people are told to move away from the tornado’s path, wear a life-jacket, lie face down and protect their head.
Meanwhile, much of southern Manitoba remained under a severe thunderstorm watch as of late Tuesday afternoon, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Morden and Winkler, as well as most of the Interlake region.
Large hail, strong winds and heavy rains are expected, Environment Canada says.
Thunderstorms over parts of southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba are in the forecast until late Tuesday evening and potentially into Wednesday.
Forecasters predict the thunderstorms will unleash 30 to 50 millimetres of rain per hour, with wind gusts around 90 to 120 kilometres an hour, Environment Canada says.
The storms are expected to intensify as they move northeast into Manitoba from Saskatchewan and North Dakota, with hail from four to six centimetres, strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall predicted, the watch says.
People in the affected areas should be prepared for severe weather and are advised to take cover in a basement or interior room if threatening weather approaches. Those who are outside should take cover from flying debris or hail.
