ESTEVAN - The Estevan area was blasted by a powerful thunderstorm on Sunday night and into early Monday.
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning just after 10 p.m. on Sunday night, saying its meteorologists were tracking a series of severe thunderstorms capable of producing 110 kilometre per hour wind gusts, nickel to ping pong ball-sized hail and heavy rain.
Numerous RMs were affected by the initial warning, and communities were removed while others were added as the storm moved east. The last of the warnings was lifted at 2:30 a.m. Monday.
The storm pelted Estevan with large hail and packed strong winds.
It also knocked out power north of Estevan to Hitchcock, Macoun and surrounding areas just after 11 p.m. According to SaskPower, electricity was restored at 5:28 a.m. after crews worked for several hours. Another power outage has since been reported in Hitchcock and surrounding areas.
Other brief power outages also occurred in the Estevan area.
A severe thunderstorm watch that was issued Sunday afternoon was lifted early Monday as well.
The Estevan Police Service handled several calls due to the storm.
The EPS received several reports of downed power lines and fires resulting from the damage. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service and SaskPower were contacted to assist.
A report was received that a building had blown across Highway 39 near Sawyer Safety. Members attended and directed traffic while the debris was cleared from the road.
Members located debris and construction material on Fifth Street and 12th Avenue. A roof of one of the buildings in the area had blown off in the storm. Public works set up barricades and SaskPower attended to clean up downed power lines.
Police received a report of a large plastic tank striking a window of a residence. Members attended. The tank had been moved by the wind and collided with the house during the storm.
Do you have a photo of the storm and its impact in the Estevan area? You can send it to [email protected]. Please include where the photo was taken and who took the picture. Also, please send the photo in its actual size.
SaskToday.ca will have more details as they become available.
