Steinbach, a city in southern Manitoba, experienced significant flooding following a torrential rainstorm on Thursday night. The city, located 40 kilometers southeast of Winnipeg, received 103 millimeters of rain in just four hours, with total rainfall reaching 135 millimeters, according to Environment Canada.

The sudden downpour left streets submerged and vehicles stranded in what resembled lakes. "It was pouring like you can't believe," said City Councilor Bill Hiebert. He received a call at 3 a.m. from a resident reporting three feet of water in his basement.

The Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue building suffered severe damage, taking in nearly two meters (six feet) of water. Vice President Graham Pollock stated, "We're in the process right now of just contacting all of our fosters to see who's open to take some of our cats that we've got in the building. We've got 22 cats and kittens in the building right now so we're in the process of moving them out."

Pollock explained that the lower level of the rescue building, where food and supplies were stored, was flooded. This area also contained items for a fundraising yard sale planned for the weekend. "And it's all floating around right now. So I don't know, it's pretty bad," he said. The property backs onto a creek that overflowed, causing water to enter through basement window wells.

Pollock noted that while their insurance covers overland flooding, the organization faces a $25,000 deductible, which is a significant burden for a non-profit.

Environment Canada meteorologist Chris Stammers reported that a line of thunderstorms developed just south of Winnipeg, leading to a concentrated area of heavy rainfall. "We had what's called training thunderstorms, so kind of a line that continuously hits the same area," he explained. Steinbach was the hardest hit, while nearby areas received significantly less rainfall.

The storm occurred almost exactly one year after another major flooding event in Steinbach, which dropped 156 millimeters of rain. Hiebert mentioned that the city is working to improve its sewer system's capacity to handle such intense rainfall. He noted that the current system struggles when heavy rain coincides with residential drainwater, leading to backups.

After the rain ceased, streets were cleared within a few hours, allowing the drainage system to recover. Hiebert shared that he learned from last year's flooding and installed a sump pump in his home, which helped mitigate water damage this time around.