A state of emergency has been declared in Rhein after a severe storm tore through the small east-central Saskatchewan community.
Strong winds and heavy rains damaged roofs and uprooted trees in the village of about 200 people just northeast of Yorkton on Saturday afternoon.
“It looked like a regular storm, then the wind intensified and it started to swirl,” said village councillor Wally Bowlin.
“Trees were bent right over to touching the ground and the rain was so heavy it almost looked like a snowstorm.”
Environment Canada has confirmed that a tornado touched down between Wroxton and Kamsack. Those communities saw close to 15 centimetres of rain and golf ball-size hail.
The storm comes just two weeks before Rhein was to celebrate its centennial.
Based on a report by CTV Yorkton’s Paige Kashmere
