An overland flood watch has been declared for sections of southwestern Manitoba due to heavy rainfall that began on Friday and is forecasted to persist into Saturday. The province’s hydrologic forecast center issued the watch, anticipating widespread rainfall amounts ranging from 20 to 40 millimeters across much of southwestern Manitoba, extending northwards towards the Dauphin region.
The most intense rainfall is expected to occur west of Brandon, specifically impacting the Virden and Melita areas. In these regions, precipitation levels could reach 50 to 80 millimeters, with localized thunderstorms potentially bringing up to 120 millimeters of rainfall. Excessive rainfall within a short timeframe may lead to overland flooding.
The heightened rainfall is projected to extend further west into the Saskatchewan area of the Souris River basin, as stated by the province. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued special weather statements for various locations in western Manitoba on Friday, with ongoing alerts for areas surrounding Dauphin and Riding Mountain National Park.
According to a special weather statement, rain is persisting in southeastern Saskatchewan and parts of western Manitoba. The precipitation is expected to continue throughout the day and into the evening before subsiding overnight. Notably, a previous overland flood warning was issued for parts of western Manitoba at the conclusion of June.
Several communities in western Manitoba endured severe storms and flooding earlier this year, with Parkland areas like Dauphin, Minitonas, and Swan River being particularly impacted. A multitude of municipalities have declared local states of emergency in response to flooding and storm-related challenges this year.
Following earlier rains, Environment Canada’s forecast for Winnipeg on Friday afternoon indicated an expectation of intermittent rain commencing around midnight on Saturday and persisting through the morning. The situation in southwestern Manitoba, as of 2 p.m. CT on Friday, was captured by satellite and radar imagery, reflecting the weather conditions in the region.