Strong winds are blamed for massive power outages in Saskatchewan.
Canada’s Environment and Climate Change (ECCC) says strong thunderstorms have brought destructive winds to the northern and southeastern corners of the province.
Terry Lang, an ECCC meteorologist, said Sunday’s storm was a supercell with the potential to cause a tornado.
“Once this tornado risk has passed, the storm has begun to spread. And then the risk of these really strong winds became pretty obvious, “Lang said.
And here it is! “Localized flood” Hwy 8 Rocanville 1630h today after pic.twitter.com/rEYvt1V9tw
– @JeffHamonPhoto
Lang said no tornado reports had been confirmed so far, but the wind had still caused significant damage.
“We saw a video or two of some really strong winds and it was reported as a tornado. But the meteorologists looked, it looked more like what we would call a burnado or strong winds coming from the storm. These, of course, can cause a lot of damage, “Lang said.
The ebb is torn in Moosomin, SK removed this sign. 16:08. pic.twitter.com/IQoByaI2TH
– @ Mahairy93
Lang said the ECCC has also received reports of flash floods, along with hail the size of a golf and tennis ball, in the southeast.
This photo was taken near Langbank, Sask. “We have had many reports of hail. It looks as big as baseballs and tennis balls, “said ECCC meteorologist Terry Lang. (Bucky Boren)
Lang said the storm was so severe that the ECCC decided to issue its first “Intrusive Warning Warning” after upgrading its warning system. The system is also used for Amber Alerts and other emergency newsletters.
Lang said the storm had moved northeast through the province, damaging power lines in places such as Kipling, about 145 kilometers southeast of Regina, and Pelican Narrows, about 420 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon.
“Then the risk of these really strong winds became quite obvious,” Lang said.
Crystal Leggett was in Kipling celebrating Father’s Day when the storm hit.
“It was completely white when the wind and rain came out,” says Leggett
After the storm passed, they toured the community to investigate the damage.
“The branches of the trees hanging on the power lines were a little scary, too,” Legett said.
Joel Cherry is a spokesman for SaskPower.
“We have damaged both the transmission and distribution lines in the southeastern part of the province, especially the transmission lines, the higher voltage lines,” Cherry said.
This photo was taken near Moosomin, Sask. “Once this risk of tornadoes passed, the storm began to spread,” Lang said. (Mhairi MacDonald)
Cherry said the wind knocked down trees on power lines in Pelican Narrows, but that power was restored northeast at 12:45 a.m. CST Monday.
In the southeast, crews are still working today to restore service.
Cherry said there are still 175 to 200 customers without electricity in the Moosomin / Wapella area.
Lang said the ECCC is still looking for photos or videos of the storm from the public. She asked people to tweet with the hashtag #skstorm or send an email to the ECCC.
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