September 11, 2009
Heavy Rain Produces Some Flash Flooding Southwest of Morden
Manitoba Water Stewardship indicates that heavy rain last night has produced some flash flooding in areas southwest of Morden.
Strong thunderstorms brought 100 to 125 millimetres (3.9 to 4.9 inches) of rain to areas near the international border from Kaleida to Altona late yesterday. Up to 190 mm (7.5 in.) was reported south of Thornhill. The area also received extensive hail.
The heavy rain has caused some flash flooding, mainly in areas south of Manitou, south of Darlingford and south of Thornhill. Some smaller roads are overtopped with water and a few culverts have been washed out. There have been no reports of homes or other buildings being flooded so far.
There is also significant water lying on fields and municipal officials are assessing the effects of the storm.
Streams in this area have risen sharply and Lake Minnewasta (Morden Reservoir) overtopped its spillway and was still rising earlier today. This is expected to result in a flow of at least 500 cubic feet per second through the town of Morden. This amount of flow is still well within the channel capacity but could be the highest summer flow since August 1985. Southern tributaries of Deadhorse Creek east of Morden could rise to near bank-full capacity in low areas, with crests likely late today or tomorrow.
The weather outlook for this area of southwestern Manitoba calls for some additional showers for today and tomorrow with fair weather for next week.
Information on water levels is available at www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/floodinfo/advisory.html.
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