3 tornadoes rip through western Manitoba, destroy home

A school bus was flipped on its side, trees were ripped from their roots and a trailer home was completely destroyed after three tornadoes touched down in western Manitoba on Monday.

The worst-hit area was Waywayseecappo First Nation, 280 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

As many as 50 people were left homeless in the community after a tornado damaged seven homes, including a trailer home that was torn to pieces.

• Tornado damages homes in Waywayseecappo First Nation

Fourteen evacuees from the community were temporarily housed in Russell, Man. overnight on Monday, said a spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross.

There are no reports of injuries.

Tornado rips through Waywayseecappo. Video: Eric Mentuck

8 years ago

Duration 2:11

Several homes were damaged and dozens of people have been temporarily displaced after a tornado swept through Waywayseecappo First Nation Monday night, about 280 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

'I'm pretty happy I'm alive'

Elvis Razor says he's in shock and lucky to be alive.

When the Waywayseecappo man arrived home this morning, he found his home and furniture destroyed and his clothing scattered in trees.

"I'm pretty happy I'm alive today," Razor said.

"I woke up this morning thinking if we didn't go to my mom's (yesterday) we would never been sitting here today."

First Nation eager to start cleanup

Band Coun. Roger Mentuck said the community is waiting for the Red Cross to assess the damage before starting the cleanup later on Tuesday.

"That will be our main concern, getting our houses fixed up," said Mentuck.

"Get our people back home."

Some of the homes with roof damage have been temporarily fixed with tarps so that if there's any more rain in the coming days, the homes would not see further damage.

Waywayseecappo has carpenters on standby already, prepared to get started on fixing homes, said Mentuck.

"We'll get through this. We've got good leadership in this community," he said.

The tornado that hit Waywayseecappo is believed to have touched down at about 5:20 p.m. and lasted five minutes, said Environment Canada.

The weather agency said it has received reports of two other tornadoes, one in Binscarth and another in Elphinstone.

Low-pressure system triggered storm

A low-pressure system moving east from Saskatchewan into the Parklands region of Manitoba on Monday triggered yesterday's severe weather, said Environment Canada.

The federal agency said there were several reports of funnel clouds from the southeast of Yorkton along with hail the size of nickles.

• Tornado warnings swirl through southeast near Yorkton, Sask.

As the storm system then moved into western Manitoba, said Environment Canada, a tornado was reported between Binscarth Man. and Russell before 5 p.m. along with golf-ball sized hail.

About 20 minutes later, a third tornado was near Elphinstone, Man. along with hail the size of tennis ball.

As the storm continued to move east, it morphed into a line of thunderstorms which weakened south of Winnipeg.

While no severe weather was reported in the area, Environment Canada said Doppler radar showed winds of 90 kilometres per hour were possible.

Tornado warnings lifted in southwestern Manitoba

Home destroyed after 3 tornadoes rip through western Manitoba

8 years ago

Duration 0:37

A school bus was flipped on its side, trees were ripped from their roots and a trailer home was completely destroyed after three tornadoes touched down in western Manitoba on Monday.