Just days after the NDP highlighted the terrible condition of Highway 123 into Cumberland House it is one of the areas under a rainfall warning this morning with 30 to 40 millimetres of rain expected by Friday morning and up to 50 mm possible in the heaviest showers. Showers will also persist into the weekend. The warning affects Cumberland House, Hanson Lake Road between Highways 165 and 135, Hanson Lake Road east of Hwy 135 including Creighton, Hwy 135 including Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay and the Seabee mine.

On Monday Cumberland NDP MLA Doyle Vermette invited Premier Scott Moe to join him on a drive to Cumberland House, so he could view the state of Highway 123 in person. The provincial NDP says the Sask. Party government cut funding for northern highways by nearly $16 million in the last budget during a time when more money is needed to provide permanent road repairs. Last week, after heavy downpours, the community declared a State of Emergency because the highway became impassable. It is the only road leading into and out of the community.

Meanwhile, Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm warnings and watches for parts of Saskatchewan Wednesday as a cold front passed through the province interacting with an unstable atmosphere. The national forecaster also warned that severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. There is no word on whether any funnel clouds touched down but there were several sightings at North Battleford Wednesday afternoon between 3:30 p.m. and 4 o’clock.  Photos were supplied by Jesse Bartrop and Ashley Suderman via Facebook’s Saskatchewan Severe Weather Tracker.