Wet weekend brings rain, hail, and funnel clouds to Saskatchewan

The last 72 hours made up for a dry start to the summer in central Saskatchewan, with precipitation falling in the form of rain and hail.

Scientist with Environment Canada Christy Climenhaga says the Hudson Bay-Melfort area was one of the hardest-hit regions in the province, receiving 50 mm in two hours and 66.4 millimetres in total. Prince Albert received about 80 mm, with several residents taking to the flooded streets in canoes. Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Airport only saw about 15 mm of rain over the weekend, but slow drainage resulted in some flooded underpasses Friday morning.

Hail of all sizes peppered the province, as well. Climenhaga says dime-sized hail fell around the Saskatoon region, pea-sized hail dropped in Quill Lake, and golf and tennis ball sized hail hit the ground near Torquay.

On Facebook, a farmer south west of Swift Current reported receiving five inches of rain on his pea crop, which was also decimated by hail. Climenhaga says the weekend weather system also brough funnel clouds to the Young and Watrous areas, as well as some damaging winds near Midale.

She adds that Mother Nature isn’t don’t with Saskatchewan quite yet, as we could see some thunderstorm activity on Wednesday evening through until Thursday morning, mostly impacting north central Saskatchewan just north of Saskatoon.