Storm clouds unload on western Manitoba
<p>Roads south of Brandon on June 29, 2020 show the evidence of being overtopped by floodwaters the previous day. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Alexis Stockford)</p>
Roads south of Brandon on June 29, 2020 show the evidence of being overtopped by floodwaters the previous day. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Alexis Stockford)
Manitoba’s flood forecasting centre has put out a flood warning and high water advisory for southwestern, western and central regions of the province after parts of the Assiniboine River watershed logged over six inches of rain June 28-29.
The watershed, including areas near Brandon and Minnedosa, recorded “close to 155 millimetres of precipitation in the past 24 hours,” and more could be on the way, the provincial Hydrologic Forecast Centre said in a release June 29.
Areas around Brandon, Rapid City and north toward Riding Mountain National Park have reported widespread flooding June 28-29, the Manitoba Co-operator reported Monday. A tornado was reported near Rapid City while Oakburn reported golf-ball-size hail.
Brandon’s airport reported 155 millimetres of rain in a matter of hours, the Co-operator said, citing Environment Canada; nearby Oak River reported 156 mm and Minnedosa reported 153 mm.
Another forecast weather system could bring “an additional 80 to 150 mm of precipitation to southwestern and western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan over the next 48 hours,” and the Assiniboine, Qu’Appelle and Souris rivers and tributaries could be affected, the province said Monday.
Property owners in those areas “are advised to take precautions as water levels could quickly rise significantly,” the province said.
Overland flooding is being reported from areas across the Assiniboine River watershed, the province said, Smaller rivers, including the Little Saskatchewan River, are “above flood stage and low-lying land near the river is affected,” the province said.
“Flooding of low-lying areas is expected” for most of the Assiniboine River and its tributaries. However, water levels are expected to remain below flood protection levels at most locations along the Assiniboine and Souris rivers.
The Portage Diversion “may be required later this week” to limit flows in the lower Assiniboine River to 10,000 cubic feet per second,” the province said. The Assiniboine otherwise flows east to Winnipeg, where it joins the Red River at The Forks.
Manitoba’s Shellmouth Reservoir, meanwhile, “is expected to handle the potential inflow increase due to the forecast precipitation system.”
