Rainfall warning blankets southeast Sask. ‘Be prepared for lots of rain,’ meteorologist says

Grab your umbrella and brace for a soggy stretch – a rainfall warning is in place for the southeast corner of Saskatchewan.

Environment Canada issued the warning warning on Thursday for areas in and around Weyburn, Wolseley, Estevan, Carlyle, and Carnduff, with the warning area stretching east to the Manitoba border and south to the U.S. border.

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Rain, showers, and thunderstorms are expected to last until Friday afternoon in those areas, with roughly 50 to 80 millimetres – or two to three inches – of rain expected to fall.

Kyle McAulay, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said some areas might see as much as 100 millimetres of rain by Friday afternoon, with the heaviest rainfall expected near the U.S. border.

Rainfall warnings covered the southeastern corner of Saskatchewan on Thursday morning. (Environment Canada)

“Be prepared for lots of rain. It’s all coming at once, it seems,” he said.

“It’s bringing some much-needed moisture, something that a lot of us haven’t seen in a while, but unfortunately all that moisture seems to be happening in a small location.”

Regina is not included under rainfall warning, but as much as 30 millimetres is expected to fall by the end of the day on Thursday.

McAulay said it is possible the warning could expand into the Queen City.

“For it to get expanded to Regina, we have to see criteria of around 50 millimetres – or roughly two inches – or more,” the meteorologist explained.

“It is pretty close, but it is just a little bit under that criteria.”

McAulay said the intensity of the rain could change quite a bit from hour to hour.

“It may not be that steady light rain that we’re used to seeing in the chillier seasons, but more kind of like a summer rain with lots of showers, changing intensity pretty quickly in duration,” he said.

With a good amount of rain expected to fall, McAulay said some flash flooding is possible, which could include flooding in basements and water piling up on roads.

“It really depends on what the ground is like for local flooding, so just keep a lookout on the forecast,” he said.