Tornado-producing storm barrels through Manitoba, heads east to Ontario

A storm that produced at least three tornadoes on Wednesday has passed through Manitoba and is moving into western Ontario.

As of 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday, all severe weather warnings had ended for Manitoba. While the storm system continues to move at about 50 kilometres per hour, it is weakening, Environment Canada said. 

The federal agency received reports of three separate tornadoes in parts of southwestern Manitoba, but it is still trying to confirm those.

It has confirmed at least one, which touched down near Long Plain First Nation, southwest of Portage la Prairie.

​Long Plain Chief Dennis Meeches said the storm caused "extensive damage" in the community of 2,400 people. Roofs were blown off houses, trees uprooted and some homes were separated from their foundations and moved a few feet, he said.

"The wind was pretty strong and the rain came down hard," said Meeches.

There are no reported injuries in Long Plain, but neighbours are checking on each other to make sure everyone is safe, the chief said. Band members are working to find residents of damaged homes temporary accommodations.

The severe storm system, which also produced a large swath of damaging straight-line winds, continued east, knocking down hydro lines and damaging trees in its path. In Portage la Prairie, the winds ripped trees out of the ground and swiped shingles off homes.

Wind gusts in Portage Southport were at least 122 km/h, Environment Canada said.

Jack Walder lives about 20 kilometres south of the city and said the storm was "wicked."

"There's hundreds of trees down. I actually see trees on buildings at my neighbour's house," he said.

"The lane is totally covered with big trees that went down ... Never seen this in my lifetime."

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In Winnipeg, strong straight-line winds flipped the roof off an apartment complex on Sinclair Street. Falling trees and hydro lines were reported across the city.

The main threats of this storm system are damaging winds, large hail — the size of softballs, lots of lightning and torrential rain, said CBC's John Sauder.

"This is a very dangerous weather system," he said.

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Sauder said it's unlikely the storm will continue to produce tornadoes, but straight-line winds can be just as dangerous as weak tornadoes.

Residents should take shelter if they hear thunder or if they are in the path of the storm, he said.