Severe thunderstorm warnings issued for southern Manitoba

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for thecity of Winnipeg Wednesday night as well as several other areas in southern Manitoba.

The agency said it is tracking a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing very strong wind gusts, hail the size of nickel and ping pong balls as well as heavy rain.

A number of people used the hastag #mbstorm to tweet photos and video of impressivelightning shows across the province.

As of 11:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday theseareas wereaffected by severe thunderstorm watches and warnings:

• Arborg - Hecla - Fisher River - Gypsumville - Ashern
• Bissett - Victoria Beach - Nopiming Prov. Park - Pine Falls
• Brandon - Neepawa - Carberry - Treherne
• City of Winnipeg
• Dugald - Beausejour - Grand Beach
• Killarney - Pilot Mound - Manitou
• Melita - Boissevain - Turtle Mountain Provincial Park
• Minnedosa - Riding Mountain National Park
• Morden - Winkler - Altona - Morris
• Portage la Prairie - Headingley - Brunkild - Carman
• Selkirk - Gimli - Stonewall - Woodlands
• Sprague - Northwest Angle Provincial Forest
• Ste. Rose - McCreary - Alonsa - Gladstone
• Steinbach - St. Adolphe - Emerson - Vita - Richer
• Virden - Souris
• Whiteshell - Lac du Bonnet - Pinawa

For the latest information about the storm please visit the Environment Canada website.

Late on Wednesday aline of severe thunderstorms stretched fromthe Breezy Point region southwest through the Winnipeg region towards Dacotah and was moving to the southeast at approximately 50 kilometres per hour.

Environment Canada's weather warnings had extendedas far as northChurchill, Man. but were laterfocused in the south.

• John Sauder's weather journal for Aug. 17