Photo in Nipawin area on July 2, 2023 following wind storm. Courtesy Barb Quinney/Twitter
A very strong wind storm flattened trees during the evening on Canada Day across the northern grainbelt with the most serious damage in the Nipawin/Carrot River region.
Environment Canada reported peak gusts of about 1119 kilometres an hour in Nipawin, which knocked trees over and ripped others out by the roots. There are many cases of fallen trees damaging vehicles, campers, houses and even sidewalks.
Joel Cardinal is Nipawin’s Chief Administrative Officer.
There was also extensive damage in the Waskesiu/Candle Lake area. Corey Loessin from Radisson was camping out the Waskesiu town site on Saturday.
It took nearly three days for SaskPower to restore full service to the entire region. The last 1,400 customers in the Carrot River/Tobin Lake area were back online late Tuesday afternoon. SaskPower spokesperson Joel Cherry says the problem was a transmission line.
Cardinal estimates it could take the entire month to repair most of the damage in his community.
Cardinal hopes to have a ‘very rough ballpark” estimate on damages in time for the July 10th Nipawin town council meeting.
