Communities on Lake Winnipeg are cleaning up after strong winds led to huge waves, flooded homes and a state of emergency in some areas.

In Patricia Beach, about 70 kilometres north of Winnipeg, about 60 homes and cottages are still swamped after Wednesday's storm.

At its height, the storm packed winds of 100 kilometres per hour, which kicked up huge waves.

"The waves were at least eight feet from trough to the top of the wave," said resident Tom Robinson.

In other areas, front yards looked like swimming pools and waves washed away local roads.

In fact, with strong winds and massive waves crashing against the shore, Lake Winnipeg looked like an angry ocean being churned by a hurricane.

On the Sagkeeng First Nation, some people said the waves were so high that they came crashing through their windows. Sixteen families were forced from their homes.

The weather was part of a strong system which moved through the U.S. Midwest. Chicago was also hit with strong winds and areas of southern Ontario were under a tornado watch.

With a report from CTV's Jill Macyshon