© Jamie Dowsett/ CTV News WinnipegThe aftermath of a severe thunderstorm that battered the community of Oak River, Man., with large hail on June 7, 2023.
A close-knit community is picking up the pieces a day after a severe thunderstorm battered parts of southwestern Manitoba with softball-sized hail, leaving a trail of destruction and debris in its wake.
The storm that hit Oak River and Rivers, communities located northwest of Brandon, was unlike any storm resident Debbie Neely has ever seen before.
A close-knit community is picking up the pieces a day after a severe thunderstorm battered parts of southwestern Manitoba with softball-sized hail, leaving a trail of destruction and debris in its wake.
The storm that hit Oak River and Rivers, communities located northwest of Brandon, was unlike any storm resident Debbie Neely has ever seen before.
"It was pretty scary," she said. "The wind was crazy. The trees were bending over. There are no leaves left on the trees, and hail hitting the house - you just knew that it wasn't going to be good when you went and looked after."
The storm flattened farmers' fields, felled trees, smashed windows and damaged homes as hail pummelled the community. Pictures from the hard-hit areas show homes with siding that's been shredded by the downfall.
