Thu Sep 18 09:20:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A severe downpour in Ethelbert, Manitoba, has caused widespread flooding, leading the municipality to declare a local state of emergency. Over 100mm of rain inundated the region, causing Shanty Creek to overflow, flooding homes, roads, and farmland. Basements were flooded, crops were damaged, and roads were washed out. Residents are now facing cleanup efforts and assessing the extent of the damage. Some blame the flooding on beaver dams that were washed away in a 2022 spring storm, causing water to flow more quickly and forcefully.

**News Article:**

**Ethelbert, MB Under State of Emergency After Torrential Downpour Triggers Widespread Flooding**

**Ethelbert, MB -** The Municipality of Ethelbert, Manitoba, has declared a local state of emergency after a torrential downpour overwhelmed the region, causing significant flooding to homes, farmland, and infrastructure. A low-pressure system brought intense thunderstorms from Monday into Tuesday, dumping approximately 107 millimeters (over 4 inches) of rain on the community, located roughly 300 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg.

The deluge caused Shanty Creek, which runs through Ethelbert, to burst its banks, swelling from two to eight feet in height and inundating populated areas. The flooding has damaged homes, with at least four basements flooded, and washed out gardens. Roads have been severely impacted, with stretches of highway shoulders eroded, requiring resurfacing.

“This is just extreme and unexpected,” said Richard Evans, the community’s emergency measures co-ordinator. He noted that while the water has receded in town, the creek remains high and continues to affect roads outside Ethelbert.

Local farmer Kevin Boese, who lives west of town, described the damage as significant. “Our pumps never failed. They just literally couldn’t keep up,” he said, adding that he had already hauled two truckloads of damaged belongings to the dumpster.

Boese also pointed to previous events as contributing to the severity of the flooding. He cited a 2022 spring storm that washed out beaver dams, leading to a faster and more forceful flow of water during this week’s heavy rainfall. He added that crops are also affected, with his neighbor’s canola swaths have been washed out of the fields. “It’s going to be a couple of weeks before a lot of guys are going to be able to get on to their crop, onto their fields to look after those crops. It’s very saturated,” Boese explained.

Environment and Climate Change Canada reported that other areas of central Manitoba also received substantial rainfall, with areas south of Dauphin getting about 90 millimeters. While the agency stated that thunderstorms are not uncommon in September, the amount of moisture in the region was notable. More rain and cloud cover, with the risk of showers, are expected in the coming days, but no major weather system is anticipated for the rest of the week.

Ethelbert officials are currently assessing the full extent of the damage and coordinating cleanup efforts. The state of emergency will help facilitate the allocation of resources and support for residents affected by the flooding.

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