Five tornadoes strike southern Manitoba

Five tornadoes strike southern Manitoba

Five tornadoes touched down in Manitoba Friday, dumping heavy rain and causing havoc in the southern part of the province.

Residents spotted the first of the twisters in the afternoon. By evening much of the region was under tornado watches, but most of the twisters swept through open fields, away from residential areas.

The twisters didn't cause any major damage or injuries but many Winnipeg residents had a tough time driving in the aftermath of the storms.

The city was hit by a major downpour -- as much as 45 millimetres of rain in the span of two hours on Friday evening. The knee-deep water flooded streets and some underpasses, and it also knocked out traffic lights in some areas.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. Midwest, deadly tornadoes claimed two lives.

Police said that two 18-year-old men died when a tree fell on their vehicle in Iowa. Police had to use a backhoe to help free a 15-year-old girl who was trapped in the car's back seat.

The storms also dumped rain in Iowa, a state already facing major flooding. Power outages, lightening strikes, and water-blocked roads were reported in states throughout the Midwest.

Twisters have been touching down at a record pace in the United States.  Meteorologists have recorded at least 1,300 tornadoes this year with the peak season for twisters still to come.