Manitoba Severe Weather And El Nino Years
Here is the more normalized graph.
the Spring and summer season ahead having strong El Nino conditions in the pacific
ocean there will be a likely chance of it effecting our weather conditions here in Southern Manitoba this summer. I have done some extensive research into the previous years that we experienced an El Nino and found some interesting news on severe weather events. I will explain all of the stories here. The years that I found severe weather events were 1953, 1957, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1972,1982, 1987, 1991, 1997, 2002 and 2009. As you know El Nino summers can be hot, dry and mostly quite humid however the storms can be bigger (more severe) than that of La Nina Summers and they can cause a lot of damage. So here are some of the best severe weather events that have taken place here in Manitoba particularly in Winnipeg during El Nino Summers.
1950's
The first out of el nino summer storms was July 3,1953: Hail and crop damage was reported west of Winnipeg and throughout Southern Manitoba, homes were hit by lightning in the Winnpeg area, power outages through the southern half of the province, flooding as well.
Later on June 25,1957 a powerful 3 hour severe thunderstorm in Winnipeg resulted in lightning knocking out phone service in the city.
August 1,1957 was active as well with 6 hours of thunderstorms reported in the Winnipeg region, hail as large as walnuts were reported in Saskatchewan along with high winds and flooding that resulted in major storm damage.
1960's
June 3,1963 Heavy rains halted seeding at Stonewall, and Brunkild. 52.4mm of rain fell in Winnipeg, 27.94mm in Gimli, 50mm in Pilot Mound. That must have been one hefty thunderstorm.
July 25,1963 another noteworthy event occurred "Wild Storm Drags Ruin In It's Wake" reads the Winnipeg Free Press. Severe thunderstorms that night moved slowly across Southern MB, thursday night leaving behind a wreckage of damaged hydro lines and telephone poles, while utilities in Winnipeg took a beating by the storm that lasted more than 4 hours. Lightning strikes knocked out power to Fort Garry, and East Kildonan and other parts of the city as well. Channel 7 was off the air for half an hour as well. An overloaded sewer line burst on Richard Street causing a 30x30 foot hole in the road. Basements flooded throughout southern Manitoba as rains continued into Friday Morning.
The day of June 3,1965 featured a massive thunderstorm that caused blackouts from , Churchill Dr. to Osborne Street where lightning struck. CJOB, CJQM, CKSB were off air due to power outages, television service was affected as well. Half an inch of rainfall during the storm, as well a feirce hailstorm smashed panes at the Saint Vital greenhouses. Areas through Pilot mound and Virden took a beating where power was out for 15 minutes, as 43 mile an hour winds downed 5 poles from Dauphin.
July 1,1965: A tornado hit ridgeville, a border town damaging homes, garages, cutting power and phone lines. Smaller than the ones in oklahoma.
June 27, 1969 Storm Causes Flooded Basements, Power Outages 20 minutes to 2 hours in St.James, Westwood. A power failure caused pumps to fail at Mcphillips Street Station up to 3 to 4 feet of flood waters. Flooding in parts of Winnipeg including the subway system on ellice avenue.
1970's
August 15,1972 1.25 inches in under 30 minutes. Flooding and submerged underpasses.
1980's (Stronger El Ninos)
July 28, 1982: A severe thunderstorm caused galeforce winds and heavy rains, telephone wires were downed in southern Manitoba, few trees were uprooted, storm set off a torrent of burglar alarms in the Winnipeg area. Caused power outages in the city, cut a path of 50km wide, 97km/h gusts in some areas. Basements were flooded in Fort Rouge and Grant Park. Pea sized hail was reported in St.James
June 17, 1987: Severe thunderstorms resulted in a rash of forest fires being sparked in Northern Manitoba, suspected tornadoes near shoal lake and kola west of Brandon about 110km. Damage to areas of Grandview, rooftops lifted off of homes. Shoal lake tornado like winds turned some farm buildings into kindling, uprooted trees, and snapped tops off of trees. 7,600 customers were without power for a period of 15 minutes in Strathclair, to 10 hours in Birtle. High voltage lines were downed south of pipestone and between Brandon and Reston. No Damage was reported in Winnipeg.
June 21,1987:Campfire Ban, Dry weather, lightning threat increased. Nice line of severe storms tore through the winnipeg area. No damage reported.
July 6,1987:
Storm leaves tenants homeless. Buildings buckeled,roofs caved, trains derailed and power lines toppled as a severe thunderstorm ripped through Winnipeg. The storm began after 7pm, 40mm of rain fell in 2 and a half hours which is not much in comparison to the big storms we see now a days. During the storm there were 3 uncomfirmed reports of of funnels touching down in SW Winnipeg, 45 windsor park residents were left homeless after a twister ripped off a corner of the winawaka Road apartment. Beverely Grant saw a twister touch down nearby the road, sky was a pukey green color she recalls, Grants son saw parts of the apartment roof flying through the air. Building caretaker was in the basement when he heard a bang and saw debris flying outside. After the storm he rushed up to the roof of the three story building and saw a corner had been ripped and folded over. Water was rushing in and effected 15 units with the southwest corner most affected. Twister hits clarence avenue in Fort Garry, the tornado hit federal pioneer then crossed the street to the versatile plant. Part of the roof was blown off at the federal pioneer building. Extensive damage was caused to electrical and office equipment. CN cars were derailed in CN's symington yard near the trans canada highway. A tornado started the cars in motion and may have sideswiped other cars. Burglar Alarms were set off by the storms rainfall and humidity content. Several traffic and street light outages were reported. Hydro poles and trees were knocked over. Flooding in low lying areas. Fire alarms from phone and hydro wires being knocked down. More than 3,000 customers were without power for 2 and a half hours, lightning and high winds downed lines in St.Vital, Woodridge, Sandford and Southwest MB. Areas north of Grant Avenue, wolseley along the southside of Portage Avenue were without power as well. Power was restored after midnight.
1990's
June 26 1991: A severe thunderstorm in the Winnipeg area resulted in 32mm of rainfall, lightning which knocked down wires and trees through the city. Approximately 7,300 homes were without power in River Heights. Power outages were also in north end River Heights, Notre Dame Avenue, and henderson highway/talbot avenue. Reports of scattered outages in homes throughout Winnipeg, due to lightning or falling trees. Garson was hit twice the power was out for 45 minutes, while 3,600 homes in Grande Pointe, Lorette, Satell, and Ste Anne were without power for 40 minutes. Areas of headingly were without power for several hours while Elie had 400 homes in the dark for 40 minutes. Winnipeg encountered strong winds, lightning and hail. A tornado touched down in the park west area neighbourhood. Someone reported rain coming in sideways on westgrove way. One tree was twisted around sideways and broken in 2, the storm forced a temporary closing of the Red River Ex. A man was also taken to hospital after he was hit by a falling tree near Portage and Dorell. The hail that was produced from the storm ranged from Dime size in Portage La Prairie, to Pea size in Winnipeg and as big as Ping pong balls in Emerson. Communties in southwest MB were given 13.5cm of rain after low moisture levels in the 1980's.
July 14,1991
Pilot mound tornado 7:30am, 120km/h winds. Tore through the town and a metal building in half.
August 8,1997
Hail, rain winds at 86 km/hr tore through the city of Brandon, wrecking tents, UCT and Canadian air force Canada games stadium . The city deployed army troops to help rebuild a new stadium. The TSN Camera sattelite dish fell off of the sportsplex resulting in serious damage to the set at stadium. The severe thunderstorm continued into the Winnipeg area 4 hours later, resulting in the same mess of heavy rainfall, hail and lightning strikes. There were power outages as well.
August 8,1997
Hail, rain winds at 86 km/hr tore through the city of Brandon, wrecking tents, UCT and Canadian air force Canada games stadium . The city deployed army troops to help rebuild a new stadium. The TSN Camera sattelite dish fell off of the sportsplex resulting in serious damage to the set at stadium. The severe thunderstorm continued into the Winnipeg area 4 hours later, resulting in the same mess of heavy rainfall, hail and lightning strikes. There were power outages as well.
2000's
July 4, 2002
Severe thunderstorms pounded the Winnipeg area with 25mm in some locations. After several hours of heavy rainfall, this deluge came after 3 weeks of a series of summer severe thunderstorms which caused 7 million dollars in flood damage. Storm watches were issued for Winnipeg as the system tracked south through Montana. However some areas of Winnipeg were not as lucky, especially the southwest part of the city where 50mm fell before 930pm. Areas through the red river valley picked up between 10 to 25mm. In Winnipeg, police were forced to close off the underpass on Pembina Highway and Jubilee avenue because of cars stalling out in high waters. Towing was needed for those that ventured into chest level waters. The most annoying calls were constant alarms in highrise apartment buildings set off by the storms. Some streets that were downtown south of portage avenue were not draining at all, huge huge puddles through some areas. The cities flood emergency lines were inundated with calls about flooded streets in the North End and River Heights. The Winnipeg goldeyes never took to avenge the Schaumburg Flyers. Earlier in june downpours dumped 178 to 305mm in some areas, 100 people were forced from their homes in rouseau river as the river overflowed it's banks and destroying hundreds of crops per acre. 6.7 million in disaster relief was set aside.
June 22-30 2009
Stormy weather ruined the weekend for cottagers throughout the interlakes and red river valley. Reports of power outages from strong winds and heavy rain knocking down trees and numerous golf course closures. Areas from Windsor park to East St Paul , Gimli, grand beach, grand marais to Victoria Beach. Traffic lights were also out at the highway 59 and North perimeter intersection, playing havoc on traffic.
July 14,2009:
Huge Storm Dumps 48mm of rainfall on parts of the city of Winnipeg. During the morning of July 14,2009 a freak flash severe thunderstorm knocked out power to 2,000 homes resulting in the flooding of 140 streets and resulted in the evacuation of the Victoria General hospital in one section. Storm damage resulted in the cancellation of surgeries. The surgeries were cancelled as water seeped through ceiling tiles onto a main floor hallway and post recovery room. "There were six inches of water in the hallway that began to trickle into the post recovery room" Graham said. Reports indicate that the rooftop drains 2 out of 6 six of them were not working properly. In river Heights 8 sections of hydro lines snapped after lightning struck a hydro pole on Centennial Street and Corydon Avenue at 9:30am. 800 residents were without power for a few hours because of the severe storm. Few hours earlier winds and rain cut power to 900 residents in cambridge to lindsay streets 430 to 705am. The heavy rains caused a unknown amount of sewage to seep into the river, about 95 percent of it was rainwater. Watters said this is common during heavy storms, since most of Winnipeg uses combined sewers, built in cities across North America before 1960 The sewers hold both rainfall runoff and sewage, and when rain falls, sewers overflow into discharge points along the river. This prevents sewagefrom seeping into residential basements,Watters said. By noon the storm reached pinawa and left the province.
