An overland flood watch has been issued for certain areas of southwestern Manitoba due to heavy rainfall that started on Friday and is expected to persist through Saturday. The hydrologic forecast center of the province announced the watch, predicting widespread rainfall ranging from 20 to 40 millimeters across much of southwestern Manitoba, extending towards the Dauphin region.
According to a news release from the Manitoba government on Friday afternoon, the most intense rainfall is anticipated to occur west of Brandon, specifically in the Virden and Melita regions. These areas could experience rainfall amounts between 50 to 80 millimeters, with localized areas affected by severe thunderstorms potentially receiving up to 120 millimeters of rain. Such heavy rainfall in a short period raises the risk of overland flooding.
The province also mentioned that the heaviest rainfall might extend further west into the Saskatchewan area of the Souris River basin. Environment and Climate Change Canada released special weather statements for various regions in western Manitoba on Friday, with ongoing alerts for areas in and around Dauphin and Riding Mountain National Park.
The rainfall is expected to continue in southeastern Saskatchewan and parts of western Manitoba, tapering off overnight after persisting throughout the day. A previous overland flood warning was issued for western Manitoba at the end of June.
Communities in western Manitoba, like Dauphin, Minitonas, and Swan River, were severely impacted by heavy storms and flooding earlier this year. Several municipalities have declared local states of emergency due to flooding and storm-related issues. In Winnipeg, Environment Canada’s forecast for Friday anticipated periods of rain starting around midnight on Saturday and lasting through the morning.