Severe thunderstorm watches in place for much of southern Manitoba

A swath of southern Manitobawas under a severe thunderstorm watchWednesday night,including the cities ofWinnipeg and Brandon.

Environment Canada said earlierthatthunderstorms had already started in the Brandon area Wednesday evening. A severe thunderstorm warningwas issued for Brandon and the municipality of North Cypress-Langford, includingNeepawa and Carberry just after 9 p.m., but it was later lifted.

As of 10 p.m., thunderstorm watches remained in effect for much of southern Manitoba, from the Brandon area to as far east as the Steinbach area, which was already hit by heavy rainfall this week.

The alerts extend as far north as the Neepawa area in western Manitoba, and up into the Interlake region further east.

The alert said conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms Wednesdaynight, with storms thatcould bring upwardsof 50 millimetres of rain, wind gusts in excess of 90 kilometres per hour, loonie-sized hail and the risk of tornadoes.