Manitoba, Saskatchewan flood fears: More rain before relief comes

Manitoba and Saskatchewan are looking for a break in the clouds and relief from the torrential rainfall that has flooded many communities, butthat's not likely to come for another couple of days.

Environment Canada has a rainfall warning in effect from Regina east to the Manitoba border. Another 15 millimetres areexpected to fall acrossthe areas hit hardest on the weekend.

Heavy downpours could cause flash floods and submergedroads, the weather agency has warned.The rain should taper off later Mondayafternoon.

• Regina flooding: city reeling from weekend of rain
• Saskatchewan flooding: 37 communities declare state of emergency
• Manitoba flood fears: 33 municipalities in states of emergency

In southwestern Manitoba, however, the sun won't likely be seen until late Tuesday or Wednesday. Environment Canada expects10 to15 millimetres of rain onMonday and a 60 per cent chance of more rain Tuesday.

The Manitoba government says it will open the Red River Floodway on Tuesday morning to protect homes in Winnipeg from the overland flooding.

Officials say they are concerned about the capitalcity as river levels continue to rise due tothe excessive rainfall.

Due to the overland flooding and road closures, mail service has beencancelled for manyrural communities in southwestern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan.

Canada Post issued an alert Monday morning, noting that "mail delivery will resume as soon as it is safe to do so."

States of emergency

States of local emergency are in effect in 33municipalities inManitoba, and 37 communities insoutheastern Saskatchewan.

Some areas got more than 200 millimetres of rain over theweekend, and overland flooding has forced the closure of severalroads in both provinces.

At least two people were spotted kayaking down residential streets in Regina, where more than 90 mm of rain fell on the weekend.

The underpasses in the city filled with water Sunday and several drivers had to abandon their cars. No one was hurt.

Helicopter rescue

East of Regina, emergency officials pressed a private helicopter into service Sunday to rescue a group of people stranded on Highway 55 near the Manitoba border.

According to Duane McKay, director of emergency measures for Saskatchewan, the group of four had been marooned by floodwater.

"They came to a washout in the road and they turned around to go back and the culvert they had driven over had washed out, so they were trapped in the middle of the road," McKay said.

In Brandon, Man., the airport shut down all flights in and out of the city on Sundayafter the main access road became impassable owing to the water.

But on Monday, airport staff set up a circuitous detour to get passengers to the building and WestJetannounced it was resuming some flights.

Detour signs are being put upalong the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 10, and airport staff will be out to direct traffic.

Volunteers and municipal crews have been out sandbagging in many communities around Manitoba mostly in the southwest corner but also in the Whiteshell cottage country trying to protect homes from rising rivers and creeks.

The rainfall amounts weren't as heavy in Winnipeg 50 mmcompared to 151 mm in Deloraine but the city was battered by wind.

The gusts hit 81 km/h at times and acity spokesperson said Monday that some400 calls came in about toppled trees or branches.

Meanwhile, CNRail said the wet weather is affecting train service on branch lines, particularly in the Canora and Humboldt areas in eastern Saskatchewan.

There has also been at least one washout along a branch line, the company said.