WEATHER ALERT

In pictures: Tornado destruction in western Manitoba By: Photography by Tim Smith / Brandon Sun Posted: Last Modified:

A tornado tore the roof off Bernadine and Brian Brown's century-old house south of Rossburn, about 300 kilometres west of Winnipeg, Sunday evening.

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A tornado tore the roof off Bernadine and Brian Brown’s century-old house south of Rossburn, about 300 kilometres west of Winnipeg, Sunday evening.

The Browns lay on the floor as the wind tore apart their home’s second floor, snapped large trees and flipped vehicles in the Browns’ yard. The couple were not injured. Their horses are OK, but two of their five cats were missing as of Monday afternoon.

The house next door to theirs was also damaged; the neighbours were not home at the time. A detached garage and shed were destroyed, and the home’s roof was damaged.

The home belonging to Brian and Bernadine Brown south of Rossburn, Manitoba on Monday after a powerful tornado hit the property.
The home belonging to Brian and Bernadine Brown south of Rossburn, Manitoba on Monday after a powerful tornado hit the property.

Brandon Sun photographer Tim Smith visited the properties Monday to survey the damage.

Brian Brown grabbed his wife, Bernadine, and pulled her to the floor with him as the tornado blew over them.
Brian Brown grabbed his wife, Bernadine, and pulled her to the floor with him as the tornado blew over them.
The Browns’ century-old home before the tornado passed through their property. (Supplied)
The Browns’ century-old home before the tornado passed through their property. (Supplied)
Bernadine and Brian were in shock Monday while they assessed the damage to their house, outbuildings and property.
Bernadine and Brian were in shock Monday while they assessed the damage to their house, outbuildings and property.
Brian estimated the thrash of the tornado lasted about 10 seconds.
Brian estimated the thrash of the tornado lasted about 10 seconds.
The tornado ripped the roof off the century-old house and tore apart the second floor.
The tornado ripped the roof off the century-old house and tore apart the second floor.
Brian Brown holds his cat Johnson after finding him under the house.
Brian Brown holds his cat Johnson after finding him under the house.
The couple has lived in the house, a municipally designated historic building, since 2004.
The couple has lived in the house, a municipally designated historic building, since 2004.
“When I got up, the room was full of debris. Every picture on the wall, and all the way up the stairs, was down — gone,” said Brian, the former mayor of Rossburn.
“When I got up, the room was full of debris. Every picture on the wall, and all the way up the stairs, was down — gone,” said Brian, the former mayor of Rossburn.
The twister flipped vehicles.
The twister flipped vehicles.
Snapped trees and a vehicle tossed by the tornado.
Snapped trees and a vehicle tossed by the tornado.
The Browns’ belongings were scattered around the property. Some items, including one of their 54-year-old son’s childhood toys, were embedded in the ground.
The Browns’ belongings were scattered around the property. Some items, including one of their 54-year-old son’s childhood toys, were embedded in the ground.
Brian Brown finds a Christmas decoration that had been inside he and Bernadine’s home, caught up in barbed wire hundreds of feet away.
Brian Brown finds a Christmas decoration that had been inside he and Bernadine’s home, caught up in barbed wire hundreds of feet away.
A detached garage and shed were destroyed at the property next to the Browns, and the home’s roof was damaged. The owners were not home at the time.
A detached garage and shed were destroyed at the property next to the Browns, and the home’s roof was damaged. The owners were not home at the time.
Large, mature oak trees snapped “like twigs,” said the local fire chief.
Large, mature oak trees snapped “like twigs,” said the local fire chief.
Brian Brown looks over the devastation to his property.
Brian Brown looks over the devastation to his property.
Brian Brown mends a fence line destroyed by the tornado with help from his son Adrian, who came out from Anola to help. The Browns have three horses need the fence repaired to keep them from running free.
Brian Brown mends a fence line destroyed by the tornado with help from his son Adrian, who came out from Anola to help. The Browns have three horses need the fence repaired to keep them from running free.

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The home belonging to Brian and Bernadine Brown south of Rossburn, Manitoba on Monday after a powerful tornado hit the property on Sunday evening while Brian and Bernadine were inside. Their home, several other buildings on the property, vehicles and hundreds of trees were all heavily damaged by the tornado, but luckily escaped uninjured. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
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