Southeast Sask. hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain, triggering flooding

Southeast Sask. hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain, triggering flooding

Environment Canada warns of another round of heavy rain for the region

Thunderstorms and heavy rain swept through southeast Saskatchewan over the weekend, triggering localized flooding in some communities and raising concerns as forecasters watch for another round of severe weather.

Matt Loney, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), said the closest monitoring station to Kipling is Broadview, where 73 millimetres fell Sunday.

"That's basically close to three inches of rain in a very, very short time," he said.

In the town of Kipling, located about 150 kilometres southeast of Regina, Mayor Pat Jackson said roughly 2.5 inches, or about six centimetres, of rain fell both Saturday and Sunday night, before moving overland into town.

By Monday morning, the roads looked unrecognizable.

"Parts of Highway 48 were underwater, parts of Main Street and some of the connecting avenues in between," Jackson said.

She said the focus has been moving water out as soon as possible.

Her own basement took on some water and she expects other property owners will be dealing with insurance claims as they assess damage.

The town has been pumping, with the RM of Kingsley and the RM of Hazelwood working alongside the fire department and town staff.

Jackson said the town's chief administrative officer secured a six-inch trash pump and was arranging additional pumps through disaster relief.

Residents and businesses are now in the cleanup phase, pulling water from basements, drying out spaces and figuring out what damage they're dealing with.

"The first thing is to get the water taken care of and then you start assessing the damage," Jackson said, adding the town has begun paperwork for Saskatchewan's Provincial Disaster Assistance Program, though it's not yet clear whether it will be needed.

Jackson said Kipling's airport has been closed for two weeks because it was underwater. Engineers will need to check it before it can reopen.

She also said the town has been working with engineers on culverts under the CN track at the northern edge of Kipling.

With more storms possible, Jackson has also asked residents to reduce strain on the sewer system, including postponing laundry and limiting water going down drains where possible.

Kiara Walker, whose childhood home is in Kipling, said her basement damage was minimal, but she's seen others who aren't so lucky.

"I know of some places around town [where] they had their furniture and personal items out on their lawn to dry out last night," she said. "There [are] quite a few people in town that are dealing with more damage than we are."

Walker said the flooding also brought frustration, as vehicles continued driving through town while barricades were still up.

She said she's concerned about more rain in the forecast, but will take it as it comes.

Kipling, Sask., hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain, triggering flooding

ECCC is now monitoring the next system closely.

A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect Tuesday afternoon for the R.M. of Kingsley, including Kipling. ECCC said an unstable airmass developed ahead of a low pressure system over southern Saskatchewan.

Loney pointed to the potential for another 50 to 75 millimetres of rain in the region if storms align the right way, along with four to six centimetre-sized hail and winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour.

He warned the main risk window in the province begins mid-afternoon Tuesday, between "about 3 p.m. and 6 or 7 p.m."

The threat was expected to ease later this evening, but Loney noted conditions can change quickly.

"People should be keeping an eye out on Environment Canada's various platforms to better understand their situation in the coming hours," he urged.

ECCC also issued a tornado watch for Saskatchewan's extreme southeast, warning conditions may support storms capable of producing tornadoes, along with large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain.

As Kipling crews continue pumping and residents dry out, Jackson said the storm response has also highlighted something she says small communities rely on.

"We've got neighbours helping neighbours," she said. "That's just what small towns do."

Aishah Ashraf is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan, based in Prince Albert. She joined CBC News in 2025 as part of the national Local Service Expansion project. Got a tip or story idea? Reach out at aishah.ashraf@cbc.ca.