Historical Rainfall Events
July 11, 1977 Western Manitoba Deluge Dumps Locally Over 100 mm
A strong system brought heavy rains to western Manitoba on July 11, 1977. The rain began as thunderstorms in the evening of July 10, then became a steady heavy cold rain throughout the day on the 11th. Winds were strong out of the north as well, gusting up to 70 km/h. Amounts over 100 mm were recorded in areas west of Lake Manitoba, between Dauphin and Neepawa.
Ochre River 136.7 mm Riding Mountain east of Wasagaming 134.9 mm Neepawa 109.0 mm Dauphin 99.9 mm Riding Mountain East Gate area 89.9 mm Boissevain 88.6 mm (mostly falling during a single severe thunderstorm) Peace Gardens 85.6 mm Wasagaming 82.8 mm Gilbert Plains 81.1 mm Brandon Airport 78.4 mm Carberry 73.4 mm Glenboro 71.6 mm Beaver (NE of MacGregor) 66.8 mm Ashern 62.7 mm Hamiota 58.5 mm Minnedosa 58.4 mm Baldur 45.4 mm |
There was some good news with the rain as the soils were dry and creeks and wells were running low before the rain fell. Some crops were twisted or somewhat flattened by the high winds and rains, but damage was minimal and mostly in lower lying areas.
The thunderstorms in the evening of the 10th did cause some power outages from Ochre River to Grandview due to lightning and wind causing damage to power lines and other equipment. The heavy rains flooded basements in Dauphin due to backup from sewers or weeping tiles. Some streets were flooded as well, with water rising into front lawns. No major damage to roads was reported.
Newspaper sources: Dauphin Herald July 13 (page 1 and 4). Brandon Sun July 11 (page 1).
The thunderstorms in the evening of the 10th did cause some power outages from Ochre River to Grandview due to lightning and wind causing damage to power lines and other equipment. The heavy rains flooded basements in Dauphin due to backup from sewers or weeping tiles. Some streets were flooded as well, with water rising into front lawns. No major damage to roads was reported.
Newspaper sources: Dauphin Herald July 13 (page 1 and 4). Brandon Sun July 11 (page 1).