The City of Dauphin, Manitoba declared a State of Local Emergency on July 1, 2026, after about 115 millimetres of rain fell since Sunday night, overwhelming local infrastructure. The city is asking all residents to immediately reduce their water use and avoid non-essential travel as crews work to manage the crisis.
Mayor David Bosiak said this flood is the worst he has ever seen in the city, even after living through four or five major floods in his lifetime. The Vermillion River overflowed its banks, flooding Vermillion Park and sending water into the north end, where low-lying areas saw the most damage. Basements and streets in that part of town are flooded, and some residents have had to leave their homes.
The Dauphin Regional Health Centre is being evacuated because floodwaters damaged the emergency generators in the basement. The province confirmed that 57 patients and one infant are being moved to Brandon and other locations.
The Buckwold Bridge, also known as the Fourth Avenue SW Bridge, is closed to both pedestrians and vehicles. The city says the heavy rain—part of Dauphin’s second-wettest June on record with 211 millimetres total—has put severe strain on the wastewater system, which is why cutting water use is critical right now.
Across Manitoba, 30 states of local emergency have been declared because of this flooding. Premier Wab Kinew announced $5 million in provincial funding to help municipalities with cash flow during disaster response. The province is also urging everyone in the Parkland region to stay off the roads.
