Estevan has been hit by several powerful thunderstorms this month, and the strongest one yet swept through the Energy City on June 24, bringing heavy rains, strong winds and spectacular lightning.
The Estevan meteorological station reported that winds registered at a fairly steady speed of 78 kilometres per hour (km/h), with a peak period around midnight, and some early Saturday gusts exceeding 83 km/h.
“But, you have to wonder about such things as down drafts from the storm and the possibility of plow winds,” said meteorologist Mike Porter, who checked the prevailing Friday and Saturday conditions.
The rainfall that accompanied the high winds was recorded at 44.2 millimetres, or about one and three-quarter inches.
“Just in the last week alone, we’ve recorded between four and five inches of rain around here,” said Porter.
“So for the rest of this week, I suppose we can expect some muggy conditions and probably with a few mosquitoes,” he said.
The storm uprooted numerous trees in Estevan. City parks manager Rod March said about 10 trees on city-owned land were blown over, with most of the damage occurring on Valley Street. Some trees were also toppled in the Hillcrest area.
March didn’t have a figure for the number of trees on privately-owned land that were damaged.
Many branches were snapped off during the storm.
City of Estevan crews started working on the cleanup on June 25 by removing some of the downed trees. March expects city staff will continue with cleanup activities until the end of the month.
The storm also knocked out power to the southeast corner of Estevan for several hours.
One of the hardest-hit areas was the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club, which recorded about three inches of rain. The 5th and 7th holes, which are at the lowest points of the course, were under water, as were the 15th, 17th and 18th holes.
The course was closed on June 25 while superintendent Bob Currie and his crew worked to remove the water. It reopened the following day at noon, but carts were forced to remain on the designated paths.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of water that was in what I would consider to be in play,” said Mulligan. Woodlawn resumed normal operations on June 27.
Mulligan praised the work of Currie, assistant superintendent Danita Bjorndalen and others who helped the course open so quickly.
“As soon as the rain quit … Bob and his team were already starting the planning on how we were going to get water moved, and what we were going to start doing at about five o’clock in the morning (on June 25) when they got to work,” said Mulligan.
The storm also resulted in a busy night for members of the Estevan Fire and Rescue Service and the Estevan Police Service (EPS).
In their report for the June 24 night shift, the EPS said they received reports of many trees that were knocked down, and four SaskPower transformers that were on fire due to the fallen trees. Police, fire and SaskPower crews attended to the fires.
Metal roofing was also found to be hanging from power lines on Perkins Street near Second Avenue. SaskPower removed the roofing.
Police also received several reports of high water levels, sewage backups, structural damage, flying debris alarms and more.
Two accidents were reported during the downpour. Both were caused by low visibility. Nobody was injured in either accident.
And police were notified of a possible impaired driver, but they determined the individual was having a hard time seeing due to the heavy rains.
