Tornado warnings lifted in southwestern Manitoba

Tornado warnings were in effect Monday evening for parts of southern Manitoba. 

Environment Canada tracked severe storm activity that produced tornadoes.

Just before 6 p.m., a tornado warning was issued for Harrison Park, including the towns of Onanole, Sandy Lake and Newdale. Riding Mountain National Park, Minnedosa and the rural municipalities (RM) of Glenella-Lansdowne and McCreary were under the same warning, but both have since been lifted.

Weather radar showed a possible tornado near the RM of Rossburn, including Waywayseecappo First Nation, early in the evening. Damaging winds, intense hail and rainfall were possible, the weather agency said. 

"This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately," the agency said in a statement.

In the end, at least two tornadoes touched down and third likely did, Environment Canada said.

• 'Intense' tornado rips shingles off roofs, flips bus on Manitoba First Nation

Dauphin was briefly under a tornado and severe thunderstorm warning, too, as were the RMs of Roblin and Grandview. Tornado warnings were lifted at about 6:55 p.m. for Roblin and at 7:22 p.m. for Grandview.

Third 'kind of crazy' storm in a month: Binscarth resident

The community of Binscarth was also under a tornado warning for a brief period.

Darcy Kowalchuk, who lives with his family in Binscarth, said around 4:30 p.m. he saw a storm warning come across his TV and he went outside to find one brewing. About 20 minutes later, Kowalchuk said he suspected a funnel cloud was forming to the north. 

"I just saw the clouds rotating in a big large mass ... sure enough, they just sort of conglomerated together into a funnel cloud," he said. He went inside to warn his family and continued watching as the storm moved east. 

"The wind picked up and the temperature changed pretty quickly," he said. None of his property was damaged, he added. 

Monday's funnel cloud marked the third "kind of crazy" storm the area has seen in the last month, Kowalchuk said. 

Binscarth is located about 330 kilometres west of Winnipeg.