Manitoba Hydro is working on restoring to power to thousands of customers across southern Manitoba after severe winds damaged lines early Wednesday morning.

As of 8 a.m. this morning, around 500 customers were without power in the Winkler and Morden area, with more than 400 in the dark in the Pilot Mound area.

According to data from Environment Canada and Manitoba Agriculture, gusts reached 120 kilometres per hour in the Somerset area, 119 in Pilot Mound, 86 in the Morden and Carman regions and 80 in the Manitou area.

Severe thunderstorm risk returns again Wednesday evening, primarily for the Red River Valley eastward, with heavy rain, hail and strong winds possible.