Skip to content

Storm blows through Prince Albert

A storm that ripped through an area north of Saskatoon on Friday downed trees and damaged vehicles in a province already battered by Mother Nature.

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — A storm that ripped through an area north of Saskatoon on Friday downed trees and damaged vehicles in a province already battered by Mother Nature.

Mike Lysitza of Prince Albert, Sask., was out for supper with his family when the storm hit.

When he drives up his street, he can normally see the huge tree in his front yard — but not this time.

When he arrived home, about half of the tree’s canopy had collapsed onto his bungalow, damaging a corner of the building and causing the roof to leak.

Throughout the city, streetlights went dark and intersections were flooded.

After the storm, residents walked through the streets surveying the damage, snapping photos, checking in on neighbours and looking for lost dogs.

Former students of Carlton Comprehensive High School, who were in town for a reunion, received a surprise as they drove past their old school.

A large, 20-metre section of the roof had blown off and lay in a puddle in the parking lot.

Fire officials responded to a gas leak at the school, which was quickly fixed.

Police received several calls about damaged buildings and vehicles. Parkland Ambulance said there were no injuries due to the storm.

Saskatchewan has been hammered by severe weather in recent weeks. In Yorkton, about 1,000 homes have been damaged by flooding after a massive thunderstorm struck the community on Thursday.

Residents of Maple Creek, in southwestern Saskatchewan, are still coping with the damage from flooded basements after flash floods ripped through the small community last month. Torrential rain also caused a culvert to fail, which collapsed a section of the Trans-Canada Highway just west of the community.