Forceful winds cause power outages around Winnipeg, impacting thousands

Jolene Head wanted to spend her Monday in a much more introspective way, butthe ferocious wind that thrashed Winnipeg had other plans.

Around 3:30 a.m. she saw two flashes of "bright, bright, bright green light" and then what she described asan intense buzzing shecould feel in herbody.

What happened was one of many power outages and transformer explosions around the city due tostrong wind gustscausing havoc. At one point,close to 7,000 customers in Winnipeg and the surrounding area were without power, according to Manitoba Hydro.

"Our crews are responding to several power outages in and around Winnipeg caused by high winds causing trees to make contact with power lines," aManitoba Hydro spokesperson said in an email to CBC News.

"We have brought in additional staff to expedite repairs."

Head had woken up moments before the flash in her Norwood neighbourhood.

"The light, really, was so bright you didn't know what it was," she said.

Minutes later, she could see a livewire sparking on the ground at the street corner and called 911.

"You could feel the energy and knowing it was electricity I don't like to mess around with electricity, I think it's very scary," Head said."I was concerned about a fire, but also if anybody drove by or walked by."

She ordered some breakfast for delivery since she couldn't cook and tradedstories with neighbours about what happened as hydro crews worked on the repairs.

"I wasn't planning on spending the day like this. I was hoping to be able to reflect and think about the significance of the day," she said, referring to Monday being National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

"Hopefully, I'll still be able to do that a little later on. I'd like to have a shower though."

An estimated 5,700 Winnipeg-area customers were without electricity through most of the morning hours. Shortly before 11:30 a.m. that number had declined to 4,800.

That included about 1,400 in the Norwood area, 1,200 in the Inkster-Faraday neighbourhood and about 1,200 in West St. Paul.

InSt. Malo,about 55 kilometres south of the city, there are 1,100 affected by outages. And there are several other smaller outagesscattered across the province, the spokesperson said.

Like Head,Julien Machadohad a wrench thrown into his plans on Monday and a tree thrown onto his car. Now he had to make a damage claim with the city.

"I came outside to use the car and obviously couldn't because it's blocking it and on top of it," he said.

Initially,Machadothought it would be much worse but a closer, cursory inspection suggested it'sjust a few dents and scratches, he said.

"It's not the end of the world but it's definitely something else to worry about now. Still, it sucks for sure."

Anyone who comes across a downed power lineis urged to stay at least 10 metres away and call 911, the spokesperson said.

Manitoba Hydro's outage map shows all of the areas dealing with power problems.

Wind warnings

Environment Canada has also issued wind warnings for other parts of the province, wheregusts are hitting 90 km/h.

The area under the warning includes the entire southwest corner of the province, from the western edge of Winnipegall the way through the Saskatchewan border. The warning stretches up the western shoreof Lake Manitoba and into Red Deer Point on Lake Winnipegosis.

The wind comes in the wakeof an intense low-pressure system moving through central Manitoba from Saskatchewan. The peak gusts are possible throughout the afternoon before winds diminish in the evening, according to Environment Canada.

At the other end of the province, the situation is similar.

Environment Canada has also issued a wind warning for the Churchill area, where alow pressure system willbring "severe winds" between 70-90 km/hto the Hudson Bay coastbeginning Monday evening.

The strongest winds are expected to persist until the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday morning, but gusts upto 70 km/h will continue for most of Tuesday, the alert states.

Windy conditions, albeit with gusts below warning criteria, are expected for the remainder of the work week.

Just west of Churchill, in the Tadoule Lake region, the wind is being accompanied by heavy rain. Environment Canada hasissued a rainfall warning for the area withaccumulations expected to be 60-75 millimetres before tapering off Monday evening.

Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible,the alert states.

Strong northerly winds gusting to 80 km/h will also develop on Monday, ushering in cooler temperatures.