A significant spring storm struck Saskatchewan, delivering a mix of thunderstorms, dust storms, and powerful wind gusts on Thursday. The winds reached speeds up to 115 km/h, leading to widespread damage and debris across the province.
Impact and Damage from the Storm
Falling and flying debris resulted in significant destruction to trees and structures. As of Friday morning, some areas were still without power, complicating recovery efforts. Danielle Desjardins, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, noted that the wind speeds approached levels typical of EF0 tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
Severe Wind Reports
Radville, located approximately 130 km south of Regina, reported the highest winds in Saskatchewan, with gusts hitting 115 km/h. Other communities also experienced damaging winds over 100 km/h, including:
- Climax
- Milestone
- Coronach
- Swift Current
- Estevan
- Yellow Grass
- Val Marie
- Shaunavon
Scott Biss, a town councillor from Radville, commented on the local damage, mentioning downed trees and lost shingles. However, he emphasized that no serious injuries were reported.
Power Outages and Recovery Efforts
The high winds impeded power line repairs, leaving numerous communities without electricity for extended periods. Biss indicated that restoration efforts were underway, but some residents had not yet regained power as of Friday.
Concerns for Local Sanctuaries
The storm also affected the Happy Little Hooves Pony and Donkey Sanctuary near Estevan. Co-owner Laura Stock reported damage to a shelter’s roof. She expressed worries about the health risks the dust storm posed to animals with respiratory issues.
Commercial Damage
In Regina, Elle Grzeda, owner of Elle’s Cafe, witnessed a tree fall onto the cafe’s property during the storm. Fortunately, it caused minimal damage, and Grzeda remained optimistic about the situation, anticipating a repair and an eventual new patio.
Weather Forecast Ahead
As the storm passed, some areas received varying amounts of precipitation. North of the Yellowhead Highway, snow was recorded, while other regions experienced rainfall totals of up to 32 millimeters. Desjardins stated that while rain would taper off, another low-pressure system is expected to affect southeastern Saskatchewan this weekend.
Strong winds are predicted to persist initially, but will calm by Friday evening. The upcoming long weekend may not be entirely comfortable as additional precipitation is anticipated.
