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UPDATE: Voluntary evacuations for Whiteshell areas after storm dumps 136 mm of rain

Falcon Lake flooding. Ken Middleton

WINNIPEG – The province has begun voluntary evacuations for some areas in the Whiteshell after heavy rains pounded the area Friday Night and Saturday morning.

The storm dumped 136 mm of rain on the area, according to a report from a forestry station in West Hawk Lake.

There have been reports of flooding along South Shore Road in Falcon Lake and in areas in West Hawk Lake.

A number of roads are expected to wash out and leave cottagers stranded. Cottage owners in the following areas have been contacted by the government and it has been recommended they evacuate: block five of Caddy Lake, east of block nine on PR 312 and there is no vehicle access on South Shore Road south of the ambulance garage in Falcon Lake.

West Hawk Lake storm damage.
West Hawk Lake storm damage. Laura Guth

The road to Florence and Nora Lakes is also washed out and the Mantario Trail has been closed until further notice.

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The Manitoba Government says traffic control will be in effect around washed out sections of highway 44 and regional roads 408 and 301.

The same storm produced lightning, high winds and rain throughout southern Manitoba.

According to Environment Canada, most areas south of the Trans Canada Highway got between 30-75 mm of rain with 78.2 falling in Killarney.

The strongest winds hit Melita with gusts reaching 124 km/h. In Brandon, gusts reached 106 km/h.

In Winnipeg, between 20-30 mm of rain fell in different areas of the city and the strongest winds measured 54 km/h.

There is a possibility of more severe storms developing towards the Ontario border in the late afternoon, according to Environment Canada.

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