Manitoba Storm: Record Rain, Tornadoes Hit Stonewall

In a CBC News video from Hanomansing Tonight, Stonewall gym owner Brody Nolin described the structural damage to his business following the severe storm that hit southern Manitoba on June 9 and 10, 2026. The storm brought record rainfall exceeding 255 millimetres in Stonewall by the morning of June 10 and spawned a confirmed tornado near Ste. Anne, southeast of Winnipeg.

Record Rainfall and Tornadoes Strike Southern Manitoba, Causing Widespread Flooding and Power Outages

Stonewall, Manitoba – June 11, 2026 — A powerful storm system that originated south of Emerson on Tuesday, June 9 moved north into southern Manitoba, dumping more than 255 millimetres of rain on Stonewall by the morning of Wednesday, June 10. The storm also triggered a confirmed tornado near Ste. Anne, southeast of Winnipeg, along with multiple funnel clouds, according to Environment Canada data released on June 11.

Storm System Path Across Southern Manitoba

The storm originated south of Emerson in the United States on Tuesday, June 9 before moving north into southern Manitoba, where it intensified into a supercell observed near Ste. Anne. Meteorologist Kyle McAuley of Environment Canada noted that the system brought golf ball and ping-pong sized hail to the Transcona area of Winnipeg.

By early Wednesday, rainfall totals reached 229 millimetres in Petersfield, 220 millimetres in Clandeboye and 121 millimetres in Woodlands, while Winnipeg recorded 122 millimetres at The Forks — among the highest June daily totals on record at that location.

The system followed heavy flooding in the Swan River area of western Manitoba from the previous weekend, compounding regional moisture levels ahead of the June 9 event.

Record Rainfall in Stonewall and Surrounding Communities

Stonewall, located just north of Winnipeg, received more than 255 millimetres of rain by the morning of Wednesday, June 10, as measured by the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, from which Environment Canada gathers reports. Mayor Sandra Smith described the rainfall as unprecedented in her years in office, noting that the town's sewage system reached capacity and required residents to limit water use.

Local resident Ryan Margetts used a five-gallon bucket to haul water from his flooded basement, saying he had never experienced flooding there before because Stonewall sits on a higher elevation where early settlers historically went to escape floods. Speaking with neighbours, Margetts described "varying degrees of bad" for everyone — some with seepage, others with more extensive flooding.

Confirmed Tornado Near Ste. Anne and Funnel Cloud Reports

A confirmed tornado touched down near Ste. Anne, southeast of Winnipeg, as part of a supercell thunderstorm tracked by Environment Canada. Multiple funnel clouds were reported across the region. Meteorologist Kyle McAuley stated that this event marked the closest approach of a tornado to Winnipeg in several years.

An unconfirmed tornado was also reported east of Morris, near the intersection of Highway 23 and Road 15E in the rural municipality of De Salaberry. McAuley noted that the tornado risk to Winnipeg itself was present throughout the evening, but no fatalities were reported. "Luckily there doesn't seem to be too much damage reports yet, which is a good thing, and no life has been taken," he said.

Winnipeg Hail, Flooding and Infrastructure Strain

Winnipeg recorded 122 millimetres of rain at The Forks, leading to cars abandoned on flooded sections of major routes while basements in the Transcona and St. Vital areas filled with water. Trees were downed across multiple city blocks, and the combination of hail and heavy rainfall created hazardous conditions throughout the evening.

The storm also affected schools across the region. All schools in the Interlake School Division, which stretches from just north of Winnipeg up to Teulon, east to Stony Mountain and west to Woodlands, remained closed on Wednesday due to road flooding. R.W. Bobby Bend School in Stonewall required emergency pumping operations after water entered the building.

Manitoba Hydro Power Outages

More than 25,000 Manitoba Hydro customers were without power by noon on Wednesday, June 10, including approximately 17,000 in Winnipeg, after lightning strikes damaged transformers and power lines across southern Manitoba. Spokesperson Peter Chura described the event as "one of the worst summer storm events in recent memory" for the utility.

Hydro crews could not work during active lightning strikes. "Last night, the priority was safety, of course. That lightning just seemed to go on and on, and as long as there's lightning around, our crews can't work on power lines and poles," Chura said. Additional staff were brought in to address outages, but rural areas faced extended restoration times due to flooded access roads. Manitoba Hydro warned residents to prepare for outages continuing overnight into Thursday.

Due to the scale and widespread nature of damage, Manitoba Hydro said it was bringing in additional staff to relieve firefighters and police in Winnipeg who were guarding scenes where live wires had fallen.

Stonewall Businesses and Community Response

Gym owner Brody Nolin described structural damage to his business in the CBC News interview, after water entered the building during the storm. The footage captured the extent of flooding and destruction affecting local enterprises in the community.

Mayor Smith emphasised that Stonewall residents were banding together in the aftermath. "Everyone is helping their neighbour, and that's what our town is about," she said. The town issued an online update urging residents to limit unnecessary water use — including laundry, dishwashing and long showers — over the next 24 to 48 hours to allow the sewage system to recover.

Meteorological Assessment and Climate Context

Environment Canada meteorologist Kyle McAuley analysed the event as a classic supercell outbreak that produced one confirmed tornado and multiple funnel clouds. The storm's behaviour followed patterns observed in previous severe weather events, but the rainfall totals in Stonewall exceeded typical June maxima significantly.

McAuley noted that the weather system's rapid development from its U.S. origins and the amount of rotation observed made it one of the more concerning days for tornado risk near Winnipeg in recent memory. The storm appeared to have passed its peak by Wednesday, but thunderstorm watches and warnings remained possible in the southeast.

Recovery and Long-Term Implications for Manitoba

Manitoba Hydro crews continued restoration work through Wednesday and into Thursday, with thousands of customers still without power as additional workers arrived from other regions to replace damaged lines. The outages affected daily routines for families and businesses across the region.

Stonewall residents and business owners began assessing damage and cleanup on Wednesday, with many facing insurance claims for flooded basements and structural repairs. The event followed flooding in the Swan River area of western Manitoba from the previous weekend, placing cumulative strain on provincial emergency services and infrastructure budgets.

The back-to-back storms have raised questions about drainage infrastructure capacity and the adequacy of flood mitigation planning across the province. For residents of southern Manitoba, the June 9-10 storm serves as a reminder of the increasing intensity of prairie thunderstorm events and the importance of emergency preparedness in communities both urban and rural.

By Alex Thompson, Staff Writer