Five things you need to know about Thursday, July 10

Thursday, July 10, 2014, 7:04 AM - Wondering what you missed overnight or what you can expect for the day ahead? 

Here's your weather briefing for Thursday, July 10. 

1. Manitoba's Assiniboine River crests

The swollen Assiniboine River crested near Portage la Prairie on Wednesday Wednesday and Manitoba premier Greg Selinger says he remains confident, but cautious.

According to Selinger, the dikes are looking solid and are higher and drier than in the 2011 flood.

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A province wide state of emergency was declared last week, which set into motion a plan to prepare sandbags and strengthen dikes around communities and rural properties, The Canadian Press says.

2. Quebec's third tornado of the season confirmed

Severe thunderstorms tore through Quebec early Wednesday morning, leaving thousands of residents in the dark and generating the province's third tornado of the season.

Environment Canada confirmed the EF1 twister with wind speeds near 150 km/h on Wednesday afternoon.

"This is the third confirmed tornado," adds Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese. "The reason why I have four on our our tornado tally is because we had pretty clear video evidence of a tornado, but EC never confirmed or rated it from May 26 near Laurierville, Quebec. So that’s why there are three confirmed tornadoes plus one non-rated tornado."

3. National tornado tally

Twenty-one tornadoes have been recorded across the country so far this year, with close to 62 being the yearly average. 

RELATED: Tornadoes in Canada: Everything you need to know

"The Prairies typically see their spike in tornado activity throughout July," Vettese says. "Tornadic thunderstorms have been a bit sparse in numbers so far this June and July, but certainly some of the tornadoes produced have been impressive."

4. Severe thunderstorm threat for the Prairies

It does look like many Canadians across the central portion of the country will be getting into an unsettled and active pattern throughout the next few weeks, Vettese adds.

A widespread thunderstorm threat stretches across parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba Thursday with the chance or isolated severe storms along the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border.

5. Moderate health risk from forest fire smoke

Smoke from forest fires in the Northwest Territories continues to sit over Saskatchewan, but is slowly moving eastward.

"Air quality sensors across the province are showing elevated particulate matter and reduced air quality," says Environment Canada in an air quality advisory issued early Thursday. "The smoke is forecast to continue to move eastward and become less dense. Air quality levels have improved over western portions of the province and will gradually improve today over the eastern portion of the province."

SPECIAL REPORTS: Check the air quality in your area here

Children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems should take care, EC warns.

"People in good health should consider reducing strenuous activities outdoors."

Very large smoke plume evident on VIS #satellite from the Canadian #wildfires & may affect Iowa today. #iawx pic.twitter.com/6RU2kkbmjk

— NWS Des Moines (@NWSDesMoines) July 9, 2014