Saskatoon hit by rain, hail, power outages

Saskatoon was walloped by thunderstorms Tuesday night — with streets flooding and sewers overflowing — and is now looking at a big cleanup.

Most areas of the city received about 80 millimetres of rain in three hours. Some neighbourhoods received more than 100 millimetres.

There was so much rain, even the city's much-publicized "superpipe" system wasn't able to keep up.

The massive sewage pipes can hold 3.5 million litres, but the pipes filled to capacity and then overflowed through manholes to the surface, the city said.

Mayor Don Atchison said the superpipe system worked as it was supposed to, adding the flooding could have been far worse otherwise.

By 6 a.m., the city had received more than 50 reports of flooded streets and homes. The fire department was scrambling as well, with 45 calls about downed trees and power lines, cars stuck in flooded intersections and alarm systems going off.

There were numerous power outages reported, although power was eventually restored during the night, the city said.

On Wednesday morning, there was still water on sections of Idylwyld Drive, a key roadway.

The Saskatoon Field House was closed due to flooding and will remain closed until further notice, the city said.