Severe thunderstorms caused widespread flooding in southern Saskatchewan over the weekend, with intense rainfall reaching nearly 100 millimetres in Mankota. Regina was hit with 52 millimetres of rain, over 50 of which fell within a single hour, leading to localized flooding.
Meteorologist Kyle Ziolkowski from Environment Canada explained that the slow-moving system was responsible for the heavy rainfall. Mankota, located near Grasslands National Park, experienced even more severe weather, with 99.6 millimetres of rain recorded, 75 millimetres of which came down in just an hour, along with a wind gust of 78 km/h. Pea-sized hail was reported in the vicinity of Big Beaver.
Environment Canada had issued warnings about the potential for heavy rainfall from slow-moving storms in southern Saskatchewan. Ziolkowski emphasized the importance of the storms’ slow movement, which can lead to significant rainfall accumulation when storms stall over one area due to the absence of strong upper-level winds to propel them.
The nature of thunderstorms varies daily, and in this instance, the slow-moving weather system resulted in the substantial rainfall observed. Residents in affected areas witnessed flooded streets, highlighting the impact of the severe thunderstorms that swept through the region.