September 3-4, 1912 thunderstorms at night
It was a stunning night of long-lived thunderstorms in 1912. The storms began between 7:30 pm and 9pm in Winnipeg on the 3rd, and continued until about 2 am the 4th. Lightning was vivid and thunder crashed, with torrential downpours lasting intermittently most of the night. The storm played havoc with the electrical system, with the Free Press describing the lighting systems as playing ''hide and seek''. No deal of damage was done to the city however, with the storm's greatest violence apparently missing the city. One horse was struck by lightning and killed near St James.
About 30-40 mm of rain fell in Winnipeg during the night. Higher amounts occurred in areas outside the city, such as 66 mm in Oakbank. Rainfall amounts via ECCC are as follows:
Oakbank 66.0 mm
Manitou 50 mm (Winnipeg Free Press)
Cartwright 40.1 mm
Winnipeg St John's College 36.6 mm
Portage la Prairie 25.1 mm
Napinka 25 mm (Winnipeg Free Press)
Morden 21.8 mm
Stony Mountain 7.6 mm
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| From the Winnipeg Free Press Sep 4, 1912, page 1 |
The storms hit other portions of the province as well, but no major damage was reported. The rains delayed harvesting temporarily. Here are some reports:
Virden - Heavy rain in town last night, and south and east of here. No rain two miles west or north. No damage.
Portage la Prairie - Downpour of rain lasted several hours, completely drenching everything. Harvesting again at a standstill. Storm was accompanied by severe lightning but with no damage from it.
Gretna - Very heavy rain last night accompanied by hail. Not much damage as most of the grain is cut. South of here in North Dakota, more hail fell and the crop was flattened.
Snowflake - A fine large barn with the season's hay was burnt last night during one of the worst electrical storms of the season. Rain fell in torrents.
Carman - The heaviest rainfall of the season last night, the rain continuing through the night. Harvesting cannot be resumed this week as a result.
Brandon - A fierce thunderstorm broke over the city in the very early hours of the morning and lasted about 2 hours. No damage.
Boissevain - It rained heavily last night for 4 hours with heavy thunder and lightning. Nearly half an inch of rain fell. About 12 farmers suffered loss by hail about 6 miles west of here. Their loss will be about 20-95%.
Emerson - There was a heavy downpour of rain last night and the ground has been thoroughly soaked.
Gladstone - There was heavy rain last night. Standing crops laid down badly.
Melita - Exceptionally heavy rain fell here last night.
Manitou - Last night's rain was one of the heaviest of the season. Grain was badly beaten down.
Souris - Rain here last night was quite heavy.
Dominion City - Heavy fall of rain over the town and immediate vicinity last night. At outside points there was none or very little.
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| From the Winnipeg Tribune Sep 4, 1912, page 5 |
This post contains info from the Winnipeg Tribune, Winnipeg Free Press and ECCC.
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