High winds cause damage, overturn semis, knock out power for large parts of Regina and beyond

A transmission outage is affecting large portions of Regina Thursday afternoon, leaving tens of thousands of residents in the dark.

Power outages are impacting people in the city and several communities to the northwest.

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At least 20,000 customers in Regina are impacted at this time, according to SaskPower.

“Around 2:30 (p.m.), SaskPower was notified about an outage affecting parts to Regina and a large rural area to the north and to the west of Regina,” said Joel Cherry, spokesperson for SaskPower.

As of 4 p.m., SaskPower’s online map showed affected areas north of Hill Avenue and west of Albert Street, with Uplands included but not the Regina Airport Authority.

Screenshots from stories posted by Elle’s Cafe to Instagram, where the Regina business explains that the power outage and high winds have forced them to close for the day on Thurs, May 14, 2026. (@ellescafe/Instagram)

The map did not show the downtown area, but the power did go out at the 980 CJME station, located on Saskatchewan Drive around the same time as other outages, and traffic lights are out in the immediate vicinity.

Wind in the Regina area is backing up traffic and causing issues on the roads, with winds so strong it’s not possible to put up an umbrella as of 4 p.m., according to 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie.

Transmission structures damaged, power out in southwest

In addition to northwest of Regina, there’s a big outage south of Moose Jaw stretching from Parkbeg in the west to Avonlea in the east.

Not only were high winds causing problems for people in Saskatchewan’s southwest on Thursday, but they were also complicating fixing the problems.

According to SaskPower, around 6 p.m. on Thursday, winds were gusting to 97 kilometres per hour around Eastend, bringing down 10 transmission structures in the area.

“We were able to restore some customers through switching, through feeding and from different lines, but Eastend is fed by that one transmission line, so we need to get those structures repairs before we can get the power back on,” explained Joel Cherry, spokesperson for SaskPower.

Cherry said the wind – combined with wet conditions in the area –  was making it hard for SaskPower crews to respond to the outage.

A little more than 1,000 people in Saskatchewan’s southwest were expected to be in the dark for a day and a half thanks to the spring storm and high winds this week. A screenshot of the SaskPower outage map at midday on May 14, 2026. (SaskPower outage map/Screenshot)

“We have personnel and materials and equipment on site, and we’ve done as much as we can at ground level but to complete those repairs, we have to work in bucket trucks and when the wind gusts are as high as they are right now, it’s not safe to do that,” he said.

High winds are expected through the rest of Thursday. Cherry said people in that area are likely going to be without power overnight again, as a result.

There were two other, larger outages in southern Saskatchewan as of midday Thursday. One was west of Weyburn, which does not have a cause yet.

One east of Regina in the McLean and Qu’Appelle areas was caused by a damaged cross arm on a power pole, SaskPower said. Cherry said at the time that it wasn’t clear if the damage was caused by the wind, but said it was a possibility.

High winds overturning semi trucks: RCMP

Saskatchewan RCMP are reporting that the “extreme winds” in the southern portion of the province are now overturning semis.

Mounties are advising the public to be cautious after receiving reports of overturned semis and trailers on Kalium Road near Belle Plaine; near Township Road 184 and the intersection of Highway 6, north of Regina; and on Highway 1, west of Webb.

RCMP officers are also responding to a collision between two vehicles, one of which is a semi, on Highway 39. The crash happened about six kilometres south of Highway 1 near Moose Jaw.

“Saskatchewan RCMP remain on the scenes of these incidents,” police said in a statement sent on Thursday afternoon. “Injuries are unknown at this time. If you are travelling in these areas, motorist should expect delays and detours. Please slow down and follow the instructions of emergency personnel on scene.

“Saskatchewan RCMP is continually receiving reports of similar incidents.”

A semi turned over on Kalium Road near Belle Plaine on May 14, 2026. (Kevin/Submitted)

RCMP are advising people in the province to delay travel, if possible, while extreme winds remain forecasted for Saskatchewan into the evening.

“If you must travel, check the weather along your route before headed out.”

Saskatchewan RCMP are recommending that drivers plan ahead and give themselves plenty of time to get to their destination, with the potential for high winds to extend travel time. Leave space between vehicles, especially larger ones like semis and buses, even in nearby lanes.

“Drive with two hands on the wheel – this will help you be prepared for sudden wind gusts that may move your vehicle,” RCMP advised.

Police also recommended watching for debris on roads and driving with full attention on the road, at a safe speed for the current conditions and buckled up.