Strong winds sweeping through southern Manitoba have left thousands without power, including approximately 4,500 customers in Winnipeg.
Manitoba Hydro confirmed the outages in a Facebook post, stating that the wind had caused trees to come into contact with power lines. “If you see lines down, do not approach—stay at least 10 metres away and call 911,” the utility warned.
The severe winds also knocked out power to about 1,200 customers in St. Malo and another 1,200 in West St. Paul, while Portage la Prairie reported outages affecting 1,000 residents.
Several other communities throughout the province have also experienced power disruptions.
Manitoba Hydro says crews have been working hard and power is being restored to many areas throughout the morning.
Environment Canada issued wind warnings for much of southern Manitoba at 8:50 a.m. today, forecasting strong westerly winds with gusts of up to 90 km/h as a low-pressure system moves through the area. These gusts are expected to peak this afternoon before subsiding by evening.
The high winds pose risks to buildings, with Environment Canada cautioning that damage to shingles, windows, and outdoor structures like tents and awnings is possible. Motorists, especially those driving larger vehicles, are urged to be cautious of hazardous conditions caused by strong crosswinds.