Weyburn receives downpour in thunderstorm

Just as many people throughout Weyburn were finishing up work for the day Monday, the cluster of thunderstorms, which had brought heavy rain and lightning through a large swath of southeast Saskatchewan, made its way to the Opportunity City. The rains fell gently at first, but intensified quickly, inundating the storm sewer system, causing some streets to nearly flood. 

The rain lasted for close to an hour, with drizzle continuing well past 5:00 p.m. Rain gauges around town showed upwards of 40 mm, or 1.5 inches, over the course of the storm. 

The rain lasted for close to an hour as the storm passed through Weyburn. (photo by Steven Wilson)

Weyburn wasn't the only community to be hit by the heavy storms throughout the afternoon. The first place in the southeast to see the storms was in the Coronach area, where thunderstorm warnings were issued in the early afternoon. Other warnings were issued for Midale, Goodwater and other communities to the southeast of Weyburn. 

Directly east of Weyburn, in Stoughton, a lightning strike was blamed for a fire at a battery which sent plumes of dark, heavy smoke into the air. 

The threat of showers and potentially more thunderstorms lingered into the evening. In terms of further storm activity into Tuesday, Environment Canada predicted in their Thunderstorm Outlook that it was a minor chance of isolated thunderstorms through the day.