Western Manitoba facing up to 80mm of rain over weekend
CBC News | Posted: June 27, 2014 11:08 AM | Last Updated: June 27, 2014
Dauphin, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Riding Mountain, Boissevain, Swan River among communities facing rain
Western Manitoba is facing heavy rains heading into the weekend.
A slow moving storm system could pour as much 50 to 80 millimetres of rain over the west between Friday and Saturday.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Dauphin, Roblin, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Russell, Riding Mountain, Melita, Boissevain, Turtle Mountain, Virden, Souris, Duck Mountain and Swan River.
Torrential rain has already hit Duck Mountain, Riding Mountain, Turtle Mountain and all places in between.
Eileen Clarke, Mayor of Gladstone, said the area surrounding her town was soaked Friday morning.
"It's extremely wet and a lot of concerns there already, and this is so broad, this rain, that for the farming community it's pretty, pretty major," she said.
Rain fell over Brandon Friday morning and the city is bracing for more later today.
Mayor Shari Decter Hirst said there are still wet basements in the city thanks to overland flooding and from sewer back-ups last week.
"More even spaced than it was last week where we had that deluge, which really puts a lot of pressure on the storm sewer system which backs up but again, it's just constant, just constant rain," said Hirst.
Winnipeg is also facing about 10 to 20 millimetres of rain starting this afternoon with a risk of thunderstorms.
Farmland looks like lakefront property
Herman Vandenham says his peas are drowning. His farm yard near Brandon is more like lakefront property.
"You should have seen it this morning," he said. "Water was just pouring off these fields."
Vandeham said 50 millimeters hammered his fields early Friday. His four thousand acres are already underwater.
"See you've got the peas, the leaves turning yellow," he said. "The plant's basically starting to die."
"In some ways you get to the point you wish this year was over and you could start all over again, start fresh."
"In some ways you get to the point you wish this year was over and you could start all over again, start fresh."
Still, Vandenham is one of the lucky ones. He still has about 75 per cent of his crop. Some producers have less than half their crop in and some haven't sown at all yet.
Farmers have had less than two dry weeks to get their crops in the ground. Those who haven't been able to do that by now are facing a total loss.
While some Manitobans are resigned to dealing with yet another soggy summer, out-of-towners are floored.
Eric Coston is driving across the country from New Brunswick. He hit Brandon earlier this week, and the deluge the city got Thursday night hit him right back. He spent Friday airing out his truck
"The water got in last night somehow from last night's thundershower," he said. "It's been wet, I feel sorry for you here in Manitoba."