Lightning storm stuns southeastern Manitoba with intense winds, hail and over 1,000 strikes

A sudden and intense storm swept across southeastern Manitoba late Friday night, bringing with it a dramatic lightning display, high winds, hail and reports of property damage across the region.

The fast-moving system tracked northeast at approximately 60 km/h, sparking a wave of thunderstorm watches and warnings as it approached. Environment Canada's weather station at Richardson International Airport recorded wind gusts up to 40 km/h, but in many neighbourhoods, residents said the wind felt much stronger.

Heavy rain, hail and damage reported

The app Lightning Tracker showed over 1,000 strikes in the southeast around 11:40 p.m., with some neighbourhoods reporting hail and torrential rain.

In the south part of Winnipeg, a resident said their rain gauge measured 20 mm of rain in just one hour. Others reported hailstones and winds so fierce they feared a tornado might form.

A 50-foot tree in one eastern Winnipeg yard was uprooted, toppling a fence and landing on a neighbour’s house. In East Selkirk, strong winds overturned garbage bins and even moved barbecue tanks.

“I’ve never been so scared,” wrote one Beausejour resident. “I went to the basement door and just stood there — I froze.”

The storm left visible damage in Beausejour, Birds Hill, and several other communities across southeastern Manitoba. While some areas like Stonewall saw only lightning, others faced heavy downpours and wind-driven destruction.

Rainfall warning remains in effect

A rainfall warning remains in place for southeastern Manitoba, with up to 50 mm of additional rain expected through Saturday and into Sunday. The ongoing rainfall could lead to localized flooding, water pooling on roads, and potential washouts near creeks and culverts.

This type of high-intensity storm is unusual for early October, as the region typically begins to shift into cooler, drier conditions.

Environment Canada is urging residents to monitor alerts and warnings, and take precautions such as securing outdoor items, avoiding travel through flooded areas, and staying indoors during storms.