Manitoba weather: Tornadoes possible as thunderstorms brew

Colleen Bready has your current conditions and updated weather forecast for June 19, 2025.

After severe thunderstorms moved through southwestern Manitoba Wednesday, more are expected to develop in the region Thursday that could produce tornadoes.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued tornado watch Thursday for all areas within the Virden, Minnedosa and Dauphin regions.

ECCC said a low pressure system will trigger severe thunderstorms in southeastern Saskatchewan Thursday afternoon that will move into southwestern Manitoba by early evening.

The weather agency said conditions are favourable for these severe thunderstorms to produce tornadoes. Hail up to six centimetres in size, wind gusts up to 100 km/h and heavy rain are also likely.

The likelihood of showers or thunderstorms is lower in the southeast, but still certainly possible, particularly late Thursday evening and overnight, including in Winnipeg.

Dry conditions continue in the north Thursday, including in wildfire-affected areas. Sunshine or a mix of sun and clouds, light winds, and highs in the upper-teens or low-twenties are all forecast for the afternoon.

Air quality has improved enough Thursday that ECCC has issued no related alerts in Manitoba or northwestern Ontario, but that could change.

The weather agency said smoke plumes from wildfires near Island Lake on the Ontario side, coupled with smoke from renewed Nopiming Provincial Park fires will spread south-southwest back into Manitoba before moving north Thursday.

That could diminish air quality in the Interlake and east of Lake Winnipeg.