Winnipeg schools closed Wednesday following overnight storm

Environment and Climate Change Canada confirmed a tornado was spotted over Ste. Anne, Man., during a series of severe thunderstorms.

The overnight thunderstorms that hit Winnipeg Tuesday have closed two schools.

The Winnipeg School Division announced Wednesday that Churchill High School was closed due to flooding and major water damage.

“Students and staff should not report to school this morning. Another update will be provided by 2 p.m.,” the school’s website read.

The St. James-Assiniboia School Division also confirmed that classes at John Taylor Collegiate are cancelled due to a power outage in the area related to the storm.

The school wrote on its Instagram page that students writing the Grade 12 Provincial Math Exam on Wednesday are still required to report to the school to write the exam.

“Students will be moved to a classroom space with plenty of natural light,” the post on Instagram reads.

Buchanan School and Hedges Middle School in the division are also closed Wednesday, and buses to the school are not running.

The division said it will provide an update later Wednesday on opening plans for Thursday.

According to preliminary data from Environment and Climate Change Canada, torrential rainfall fell across southern Manitoba on Tuesday night, with 117 mm of rain being reported at The Forks in Winnipeg. Winnipeg also reported a wind gust of 94 km/hour during the storm.

CTV News has reached out to other school divisions in Winnipeg about potential closures and will update the story.

-With files from CTV’s Katherine Dow