Hail, spring! Storm drops blanket of white ice on Winnipeg By: Kevin Rollason Posted: 9:05 AM CDT Friday, May. 17, 2024 Last Modified: 11:29 AM CDT Friday, May. 17, 2024 Updates

Parts of southern Manitoba were hit by hail late Thursday afternoon.

Natalie Hasell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said Friday that reports of hail were centred in the west and south part of Winnipeg. She said most of the hail reported fell in the Fort Garry to Polo Park and Sturgeon Creek areas and was mostly pea-sized, but some people reported toonie-sized hail.

St. James resident Fiona Odlum said her entire property was covered hail the size of peas and nickels.

“It lasted for 15 minutes. I’ve never seen hail last that long,” Odlum said. “It was just crazy. It went on and on. After it was over, I walked outside, and it covered my feet. That’s how much hail fell.”

Odlum said she drove to Tuxedo a few minutes later and saw residents using snow shovels to remove hail from driveways.

Hasell said Winnipeg received 20 mm of precipitation Thursday, while Brunkild got 28.5, Reed Lake 23.9 and Morris 27.3.

“Thunderstorms are not unusual in May in southern Manitoba,” she said.

“Last year, for hail in May, we had 34 reported hail events in the province, with loonie- and toonie-size in at least two of the reports, and at least reports of golf ball-sized, which is larger.”

Hasell said Manitobans should continue to be ready to deal with severe weather going into the long weekend.

“There is a generalized risk of thunderstorms through most of the southern prairies and for Manitoba — a good chunk of the Interlake as well,” she said.

“There will be storms and thunderstorms later this afternoon and through tonight and tomorrow.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca