Powerful Winds Cause Widespread Outages in Winnipeg, Affecting Thousands
Strong winds sweeping across Winnipeg have left thousands without power, with Manitoba Hydro reporting that nearly 7,000 customers were impacted by power outages due to downed trees and high gusts. The winds, which began early Monday morning, caused transformers to explode and power lines to go down across the city and surrounding areas.
One of the affected residents, Jolene Head, witnessed the outages firsthand around 3:30 a.m. in her Norwood neighborhood. She described seeing flashes of bright green light followed by a loud buzzing sound before losing power.
“I saw live wires sparking on the street corner, and immediately called 911. It was a scary situation, and I was worried about the risk of fire,” said Head.
Manitoba Hydro crews were quickly dispatched to restore electricity. The company stated in an email to CBC News that additional staff were called in to expedite repairs. By mid-morning, around 4,800 customers remained without power, with the hardest-hit areas including Norwood, Inkster-Faraday, and West St. Paul.
Residents in St. Malo, located 55 kilometers south of Winnipeg, also faced outages, with 1,100 customers affected.
Property Damage and Safety Concerns
Julien Machado, another Winnipeg resident, found his plans disrupted when a tree fell on his car. “I went outside to use my car and saw it was completely blocked by a tree,” he said. Fortunately, the damage appeared to be limited to a few dents and scratches.
Manitoba Hydro has urged anyone encountering downed power lines to stay at least 10 meters away and call 911 immediately.
Wind Warnings Across Manitoba
Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for parts of Manitoba, with gusts reaching up to 90 km/h. Areas in the southwest of the province, extending from the western edge of Winnipeg to the Saskatchewan border, are under the warning, as well as regions along the western shore of Lake Manitoba and into Red Deer Point on Lake Winnipegosis.
Similar warnings have been issued for Churchill and surrounding areas, with winds expected to reach between 70 and 90 km/h. Additionally, Tadoule Lake faces both strong winds and heavy rainfall, with up to 75 millimeters of rain forecasted, raising concerns of localized flooding.
The powerful winds are expected to subside by evening, but gusty conditions will likely persist through the week.
Stay Safe During Outages
Manitoba Hydro’s outage map is available to help residents track areas affected by power outages. As winds continue to batter parts of the province, residents are reminded to prioritize safety and avoid downed power lines at all costs.
Source: Swifteradio.com
