🔴 BREAKING: Severe Storms Exploding Across the Prairies — Hail & Tornado Threat Tonight

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Severe thunderstorm outbreak is developing across a Saskatchewan and Manitoba tonight. Active watches and warnings are in effect right now. About 90 minutes ago, Environment Canada issued an active severe thunderstorm warning for Western Manitoba. Confirmed wind gusts of 90 km/h and quarter-size hail. Over 130 communities across Saskatchewan are currently under severe thunderstorm watches and the storms are expected to intensify through the overnight hours. The thunderstorm outlook issued yesterday identified this as a moderate risk corridor and tonight that forecast is now verifying across the prairies. If you are anywhere in central or eastern Saskatchewan or western Manitoba, you need to stay with this video right now. So, let's get right into it. Good evening everyone and welcome back. We are tracking an active and dangerous severe weather situation across the prairies. Environment Canada has issued multiple severe thunderstorm watches and one active warning across Saskatchewan and Manitoba this afternoon and evening. The 2:13 p.m. CST Saskatchewan watch warned of severe winds and small hail with damage possible to roofs, fences, branches, and soft shelters. Manitoba's watch followed at 3:31 p.m. CDT also warning of severe winds and small hail with the same damage potential across western Manitoba communities. Then at 5:05 p.m. CST Environment Canada updated the Saskatchewan watch upgrading the hazards to strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain. That 5:05 p.m. CST update specifically stated the risk of severe thunderstorms continues into the evening, which means we are in that highest risk window right now. Then at 6:31 p.m. CDT this evening, Environment Canada issued an active severe thunderstorm warning for a specific line of storms in western Manitoba. That warning was issued about 90 minutes ago and since that storm line was moving east at 30 km/h, go to weather.gc.ca right now for the latest position and any updates. At warning time, a line of severe thunderstorms was located from 5 km southeast of Saint Clara to 4 km north of Assiniboia Provincial Park.

[00:02:03]That line extended to 11 km west of Saint Lazare and the entire system was moving east at 30 km per hour at the time of issuance. Communities in the direct path at warning time included Russell, Roblin, Birtle, Assiniboia Provincial Park, Dropmore, Shellmouth, Shevlin and Foxwarren. Also in the path at warning time Harrowby, Beulah, Silverton, Millwood, Gambler, Saint Clara and Boggy Creek, a wide swath of western Manitoba. The confirmed hazards in that warning are 90 km per hour wind gusts and quarter-size hail that is approximately 2.4 cm in diameter. If you are in any of those communities right now, take cover in a basement or interior room immediately.

[00:02:42]Do not wait to see the storm arrive. If you are outside, get inside now. If you hear roaring wind, see a funnel cloud or see flying debris, take shelter immediately. Do not hesitate.

[00:02:52]Environment Canada has confirmed severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.

[00:02:56]When thunder roars, go indoors.

[00:02:58]Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Secure loose objects outside if you can do so safely. Strong wind gusts can turn outdoor furniture and unsecured items into dangerous projectiles. All right, with the most urgent information covered, let's now walk through the full picture of what is developing across both provinces tonight. The setup for this event is textbook late spring severe weather. A low pressure trough draped across the prairies drawing in warm unstable air from the south. Current temperatures are running very warm for this time of night near 26° in Red Sucker Lake and 24 in Saskatoon and that warmth is fueling this storm system. All that warmth and moisture has loaded the atmosphere and as storm cells continue to develop tonight, that energy will be released across a wide area. Now, let's look at where the system is expected to go overnight and I want to be clear that what follows is based on model forecast imagery, not live radar. With that important caveat on the table, here is what the forecast models are showing for tonight, starting around 2:00 a.m.

[00:03:59]Monday morning. At that time, the models show a large convective complex, a cluster of thunderstorm cells, potentially stretching from just south of La Ronge down toward the Red Earth area. The most intense cores, according to the model forecast, could be centered near the Prince Albert and Saskatoon corridor in the 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.

[00:04:18]window. Rainfall rates in those intense cores could reach significant levels.

[00:04:22]The models indicate the potential for very heavy rainfall in localized areas overnight. This is consistent with what Environment Canada stated in the 5:05 p.m. CST watch. Conditions are favorable for strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain. So, by around 3:00 a.m., the forecast models suggest the storm system could reach its maximum aerial coverage across central and eastern Saskatchewan simultaneously. That would put communities from the Candle Lake area in the north down toward Waskesiu and A in the south and east toward Yorkton, all potentially in the active zone. The models also show an isolated cell potentially firing near the Lucky Lake area of west-central Saskatchewan.

[00:05:01]Instability is widespread across the province tonight. So, you'll around the 5:00 a.m. time frame Monday, the model suggests the storm complex consolidates across the Humboldt through Watrous corridor in central Saskatchewan.

[00:05:13]The Melfort and Star City area along Highway 6 is also in the forecast zone for overnight storm activity based on what the models are currently showing.

[00:05:21]So, by around 7:00 a.m. Monday, the models suggest the dominant activity shifts into the Swan River, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, and The Pas zones of northern Manitoba. And by 8:00 a.m.

[00:05:31]Monday morning, the forecast models show activity concentrating over the Pelican Rapids and Swan River areas of western Manitoba. Again, these are forecast model projections. Actual timing and intensity will vary. Real-time updates from Environment Canada are your most reliable source. Now, there is also a second weather story tonight. A large-scale frontal rain band across northern and northeastern Saskatchewan, separate from the severe thunderstorm threat. This is a stratiform precipitation system, steady widespread rain rather than severe convective storms covering areas from Stony Rapids southward through La Ronge. The ECMWF model rain accumulation layer is showing this band extending across northern Saskatchewan and into northern Manitoba through the overnight period. If you're in those northern communities tonight, La Ronge, Pelican Narrows, Fond-du-Lac, Stony Rapids, expect steady to heavy rain through the overnight hours. The ECMWF model imagery also shows this system is associated with a low pressure area with 996 to 998 millibar isobars over northern Alberta near Fort Chipewyan. Now, let's talk about where tonight's watches and warning actually came from because Environment Canada forecast this event well in advance.

[00:06:42]Environment Canada issued a thunderstorm outlook on Saturday, May 23rd at 19:07 UTC, more than 24 hours before tonight's storms began to develop. That outlook was valid for today, Sunday, May 24th from noon through midnight, exactly the window where we are seeing severe weather develop right now. They designated a moderate risk zone, the yellow shading on the outlook map centered over the Yorkton to Dauphin to Roblin to Swan River corridor. That moderate risk zone carried a forecast of wind gusts between 90 and 110 km/h and hail between 2 and 3 cm in diameter.

[00:07:17]That forecast is now verifying. The Manitoba warning tonight confirmed 90 km/h gusts and quarter-size hail in exactly that risk corridor. There was also a minor risk zone, the gray dashed area on the outlook, covering the La Ronge corridor in northern Saskatchewan with 70 to 90 km/h gusts possible. This is why thunderstorm outlooks matter. A 24-plus hour heads-up allows communities, emergency managers, and individuals to prepare before watches are even issued. Now, let's talk about what you need to do tonight if you are in a watch or warning zone because the next few hours are the most critical period of this event. If you are under the active severe thunderstorm warning in western Manitoba, check weather.gc.ca immediately for the current storm position and take shelter if not already done. If you are under a severe thunderstorm watch anywhere in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, be ready to act the moment conditions deteriorate or a warning is issued for your area. A severe watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms. It does not mean storms will definitely hit your location, but you need to be prepared and monitoring. Have a plan, know where your safe room is, keep a battery-powered radio available, keep your phone charged and charged, and environment Canada alert notifications turned on. If you are planning to travel tonight anywhere across central or eastern Saskatchewan or western Manitoba, reconsider. Road conditions will deteriorate rapidly with these storms. For Saskatchewan road conditions, check Saskatchewan Highways 511. For Manitoba, check Manitoba's 511 highway information before getting on the road tonight. Now, let's do a rapid regional breakdown because I want every viewer to know exactly what alert level applies to their community right now.

[00:08:59]Warning western Manitoba, Russell, Roblin, Birtle, Asessippi Provincial Park, Riding Mountain National Park, RM of Russell, Binscarth, and RM of Ellice Archie. Watch Manitoba, Duck Mountain Provincial Park, Gilbert Plains, Hamiota, Minnedosa, River Clan, William Erickson, Grandview, Rossburn, Prairie View, Dauphin, and Minnedosa. Also under Manitoba watch, Swan Valley West, Minnedosa, Boissevain, Ethelbert, RM of Riding Mountain West, Riverdale, Mun of Souris, Glenwood, and RM of Wallace-Woodworth including Virden. E watch Saskatchewan, the city of Redvers, Arcola, and essentially the entire eastern central part of the province.

[00:09:34]This is an enormous geographic footprint. Under watch in northern Saskatchewan, Cumberland House, Hanson Lake Road between highways 165 and 135, Creighton, Sandy Bay, and the CB mine area. Under watch in central Saskatchewan, Humboldt, Melfort, Tisdale, Nipawin, Star City, Kinistino, Wakaw, and communities surrounding Prince Albert. Under watch in eastern Saskatchewan, Yorkton, Canora, Melville, Esterhazy, Weyburn, Estevan, and the entire southeastern corner of the province. Also under watch in Saskatchewan, the Hudson Bay area, Porcupine Plain, Arborfield, Preesville, Kamsack, and communities along Highway 135, including Pelican Narrows. The watch language from Environment Canada is clear. Conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms capable of strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain.

[00:10:21]Strong wind gusts from these storms can damage trees and buildings and overturn vehicles. This threat extends well beyond just the active warning zone in Manitoba. If you have storm reports tonight, hail sizes, wind damage, or storm photos from your area, share them in the comments below. That information helps the community. We will be monitoring the situation closely and will post an updated video tomorrow morning, Monday, May 25th, once we have a full picture of what occurred overnight. That morning update will cover storm impacts, damage reports, and what the rest of Monday looks like for both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. If you found this coverage helpful tonight, please give it a like. It helps get the safety information in front of more people across the prairies who need it right now. Subscribe and turn notifications on so you are notified the moment we post the Monday morning update. Severe weather events move fast and so do we. Stay weather aware tonight, Prairie Canada. Monitor your local conditions, keep your phone charged, and stay connected to Environment Canada alerts. Uh I'll see you in the next one. Stay safe out there.