Storm warnings moving east, advisories downgraded for western Manitoba

Severe thunderstorm warnings movedeastSaturday afternoon, and concerns about severe weather were easedin the western part of the province.

Thunderstorm warnings, wind warnings and thunderstorm watches werestill in effect late Saturday across the region though,including wind warnings for Lake Manitoba, Lake Winnipeg, Lake Winnipegosis, Lake Dauphin, and Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario.

Stormy weather forced hundreds of people at the Winnipeg Folk Festival at Bird's Hill Park north of the cityscrambling for cover.

Environment Canada had said early Saturday severe thunderstorms and potentially damaging winds werepossible for western and southern Manitoba and the lakes.

Forecasters said a cold front was moving into the province and they expected skies to clear as the front movedoff late Saturday.