Tornado warnings lifted, southeastern Manitoba remains under severe thunderstorm watch

Tornado warnings lifted, southeastern Manitoba remains under severe thunderstorm watch

Environment Canada was tracking storms possibly producing tornadoes in parts of province

Tornado warnings were issued for parts of southern Manitoba on Tuesday afternoon, and much of the province's south was under a severe thunderstorm watch.

As of shortly before 5 p.m. CT, meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm possibly producing a tornado in an area to the northeast of Lake Manitoba, Environment and Climate Change Canada said in an alert.

The storm was moving northeast at 25 kilometres per hour, the warning said, producing a "very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation." The communities of Ashern, Eriksdale and Lake St. Martin First Nation were affected.

Another tornado warning for the area just north of Morden and Winkler was issued shortly before 5 p.m. CT. The weather agency said meteorologists were tracking a second severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.

All the tornado warnings were lifted as of 7 p.m. CT, along with all the severe thunderstorm watches in southwestern Manitoba.

The province's southeastern corner, including Winnipeg, remained under a severe thunderstorm watch as of 7:40 p.m. CT.

Large hail, strong winds and heavy rains were expected, Environment Canada said.

Thunderstorms over parts of southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba were in the forecast until late Tuesday evening and potentially into Wednesday.

Forecasters predict the thunderstorms will unleash 30 to 50 millimetres of rain per hour, with wind gusts around 90 to 120 kilometres an hour, Environment Canada says.

The storms are expected to intensify as they move northeast into Manitoba from Saskatchewan and North Dakota, with hail from four to six centimetres, strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall predicted, the watch says.

People in the affected areas should be prepared for severe weather and are advised to take cover in a basement or interior room if threatening weather approaches. Those who are outside should take cover from flying debris or hail.