Winnipeg storm a once-in-a-century event

City officials say parts of Winnipeg experienced a 1 in 100 year rain event Thursday night.

Charleswood, River Heights and Tuxedo were hardest hit by the thunderstorm which left 30 homes flooded with raw sewage in their basements because the city’s sewer system simply couldn’t handle the pressure.

Officials say another 47 homes were flooded with clean water, based on calls so far Friday afternoon to the city’s 311 service line.

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A map of rainfall amounts provided by the city shows a very concentrated storm that dumped about 55 millimetres of rain in the Grant Ave. and Kenaston Boul. area but barely sprinkled other neighbourhoods, like the area south of McGillivray Boulevard, with only about 2.5 millimetres.

The storm also flooded several businesses, including IKEA. The huge furniture store reopened Friday after the inundation Thursday night that was caught on camera and posted to YouTube.

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