Severe thunderstorms swept through southern Saskatchewan over the weekend, bringing heavy rainfall that caused flooding in parts of Regina and nearly 100 millimetres of precipitation in Mankota. Environment Canada reported that Regina received 52 millimetres of rain from the thunderstorms, with over 50 millimetres falling in just one hour, leading to localized flooding.
Meteorologist Kyle Ziolkowski from Environment Canada explained that the slow-moving system resulted in the heavy rainfall, a pattern that has been more prevalent this year. Mankota, situated near Grasslands National Park, experienced even more intense rainfall, with 99.6 millimetres recorded. About 75 millimetres fell within an hour in Mankota, accompanied by a wind gust of 78 km/h and reports of pea-sized hail near Big Beaver.
Environment Canada had issued warnings about slow-moving storms in southern Saskatchewan potentially causing very heavy rain, up to 50 millimetres in an hour, in narrow bands. The storms that passed through Regina on Saturday afternoon were associated with one of these bands. Ziolkowski emphasized that the slow movement of the storms, coupled with the absence of strong upper-level winds, caused the prolonged rainfall and subsequent flooding in some areas.
Thunderstorm activity is common during the summer months, but the specific characteristics of the storms can vary day by day. In this instance, the slow-moving system led to the unusually heavy rainfall. Photos shared by residents showed flooded streets in Regina and the aftermath of the severe weather conditions in the region.