Leons Headlines June 30: BREAKING-Manitoba has issued a FLASH FLOOD ALERT at 10AM CENTRAL, Tuesday June 30, 2026. Manitoba is under active FLASH FLOOD ALERT in the western and northwestern regions (including the Parkland area), with ongoing river flood alerts and heavy rainfall risks that could trigger localized flash flooding following severe storms and record rains.
-As a tornado watch, severe thunderstorm watch & rainfall warning were in effect simultaneously, heavy rainfall caused localized flooding across Brandon, affecting several key streets & intersections, but most water has since receded.
-By Monday evening, Environment Canada reported Boissevain (150 mm), Deloraine (127 mm), Minto (101 mm) & west Brandon (100 mm).
-Storm-related outages left about 14K Hydro customers without power, and residents are being warned to stay clear of downed lines and report hazards.
-Highway 16 between Gladstone and Neepawa was temporarily closed due to flooding but has since reopened to traffic.
-Manitoba’s wildfire situation remains severe with 127 active fires—well above average—forcing evacuations in multiple northern communities & ongoing park closures.
-Sunday’s severe storm produced an EF-2 tornado near Rossburn (with a possible second near Roblin), causing property damage & ongoing assessments by the Northern Tornadoes Project.
-Countryfest shifted from day passes to focus on a “festival experience,” selling an estimated 10K weekend passes, organizers say the approach created strong attendance & one of the best events in a decade.
-If Canada, the US & Mexico fail to reach a new CUSMA deal by July 1, the agreement continues under existing rules while the 3 countries enter a prolonged cycle of review & negotiations; any party can issue termination notice which would be followed by a 6-month withdrawal period.
-Tomorrow’s Canada Day celebrations in Brandon run from 11 am-11 p.m. at the Riverbank Discovery Centre with live music, kids’ activities, food trucks, market & fireworks at 11 p.m.
Rossburn Tornado Rated EF-2. The tornado that struck near Rossburn on Sunday has now been officially rated an EF-2, with estimated wind speeds between 180 and 240 km/h. Have you ever seen a tornado in person, or is severe weather becoming more common than you remember?
Study: Bad Weather Increases Mental Health Assistance Calls. A new study found that periods of gloomy, stormy weather are linked to an increase in calls for mental health support. Do rainy days affect your mood, or do you actually enjoy a good storm?
https://studyfinds.com/mental-health-help-cloudy-days
Why Is Nova Scotia’s Last Day of School Only Two Hours? While most Canadian students started summer vacation yesterday, Nova Scotia students wrap up today with a school day that’s only about two hours long. Is that a fun tradition, or would you rather just start summer a day earlier?
Canada Day Food Debate: What’s Canada’s National Dish? Poutine is often considered Canada’s signature food, but many argue for maple syrup, butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, or even ketchup chips. If you had to pick just one food to represent Canada, what would it be?
