Severe storms prompt tornado warning in Saskatchewan
A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado has been detected in southern Saskatchewan. Residents in the affected region should be in their shelters.
A tornado warning has been issued in southern Saskatchewan as meteorologists with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) are tracking a thunderstorm that is potentially producing a tornado.
In addition to potentially producing a tornado and intense winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are possible. See below for the details.
Current tornado warnings
R.M. of Medstead including Medstead Belbutte and Birch Lake
4:16 PM CST: Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible.
Tornado Location: Near Medstead Motion: East at 40 km/h Locations in the Path: Medstead
This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.
Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately.
Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
Wednesday: Severe storm threat, but with desperately needed rainfall for the wildfire zones
An unstable atmosphere is expected to develop Wednesday as a large, upper-level low interacts with a warm ridge of high pressure.
Isolated thunderstorms are forecast Wednesday afternoon across northern and central Alberta and Saskatchewan, with a focus on areas from east of Calgary, Alta., to Saskatoon, Sask., for potential severe storms by early evening.
Supercells may form in Alberta and track eastward into Saskatchewan, bringing risks of large hail (3-5 cm, or loonie- to golf ball-sized), and possibly one or two tornadoes. Damaging wind gusts of 90-110 km/h could also accompany maturing storms.
Overnight, this system is expected to bring persistent rain into wildfire-affected areas of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, offering much-needed relief through late-Thursday into Friday, when as much as 30-80 mm could fall.
In south-central Saskatchewan, there is isolated potential for some large hail and severe thunderstorms to continue east through the overnight.That can also bring with it strong wind gusts.
DON'T MISS: 2025 is Canada's second-worst wildfire season on record for area burned
Thursday: Storm risk shifts east, Alberta significantly cools
By Thursday, the storm system will shift eastward, bringing a significant cooldown to Alberta, with daytime highs falling shy of 20°C.
SEE ALSO: Canada’s rain gauge runs dry, cities top weeks without rain
In southern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, high thunderstorm energy will build through the afternoon. The system’s advancing cold front will strengthen through the day and possibly trigger severe storms by the late afternoon and evening.
There is some uncertainty where thunderstorms will trigger, but a potent environment is present for large hail and damaging winds storms near the Winnipeg area and east.
The hail size is expected to be 2-4 cm (loonie- to golf ball-sized). There is a potential for one or two tornadoes, as well, with the cluster of storms line out in front of the cold front, but there is a cap in the environment that may inhibit that.
Beyond, temperatures will be changeable through the weekend. Northern areas will be cooler than normal, but the southern Prairies will end up warmer than normal with a couple rounds of warmer weather surging north of the U.S. border. Warmer-than-normal temperatures will dominate next week.
Be sure to check back for the latest updates across the Prairies