Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for Mountain View County near Sundre Thursday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for much of central and southern Alberta.
At 2:49 p.m., meteorologists said they were tracking a severe thunderstorm near Schantz, located about 25 kilometers southeast of Sundre, which was slowly moving east. He said the thunderstorm produced a tornado.
Residents were urged to take shelter.
A tornado watch was also issued before 3:00 PM for the city of Red Deer and the region.
Large cone tornado lost sight of pic.twitter.com/lbSHOBjNRn
—@lightningmanAB
Meteorologists are also tracking a strong thunderstorm west of Rocky Mountain House traveling east that may be capable of producing nickel-to-ping-pong ball hail and heavy rain.
A tornado watch was also issued for areas in Brazeau County, Clearwater County, Yellowhead County, O’Chiese 203 Reservation and Clearwater County near the Sunchild Cree Reservation.
Shortly before 3 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Milk River and Coutts areas in southern Alberta.
Around 3:30 p.m., Environment Canada said it was tracking a severe thunderstorm located 10 km south of Fort Assiniboine, about 160 km northwest of Edmonton.
Earlier in the day, the agency issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several other regions of the province (see below).
Tornado pic.twitter.com/7Nzwl1HCV8
—@lightningmanAB
It said conditions were favorable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that could produce strong winds, hail damage and heavy rain.
Severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes, he said.
“Thunderstorms are expected over much of southern and central Alberta today,” Environment Canada said on its website as of 10:27 a.m. Thursday.
“Some of these thunderstorms will become severe.”
Bergen pic.twitter.com/X29ASTLkYg
—@ratzlaff
The agency warned that very large hail could damage property, break windows, dent vehicles and cause serious injury.
It also said very strong wind gusts could damage buildings, bring down trees and blow large vehicles off the road.
If people hear thunder, they should head indoors, the agency said, to avoid lightning strikes nearby.
Environment Canada has issued severe thunderstorm watches for the following regions:
Kyle Brittain, head of the Alberta Bureau of Meteorology Network, said the province is entering peak tornado season, which typically runs through the month of July.
He said Alberta typically has about 15 tornadoes a year. So far, the province has probably experienced two, which is a little slower than expected, he said.
Tornado continues near Bergen 245PM pic.twitter.com/phZasSTKbh
—@KyleTWN
“Here in Alberta, we are very dependent on local sources of moisture,” Brittan told the Calgary Eyeopener.
“So how much rain we get in June and July can really define our season. And it looked like we were going to have another drought year earlier in the year, but that completely changed in June.
“We have a lot of water in the ground now.”
He said in the event of a tornado approaching, people should get to the lowest possible level in their home or in a sturdy structure.
“The interior room on the lowest level with no windows is the safest place,” he said, adding that people should monitor local media for updates on what is happening.
If someone ends up in a place like a mall or school, he recommends finding a safe room with strong walls, such as a bathroom.
What to do in case of a tornado
The Government of Canada’s Hazards and Emergencies website advises the following to protect yourself in the event of a tornado:
If you are in a house:
- Find shelter in the basement or a small interior room on the ground floor such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
- If there is no basement, go under a heavy table or desk.
- Always avoid windows, exterior walls and doors.
If you are in an office or apartment building:
- Go to an inner corridor or room, preferably in the basement or ground floor.
- Avoid the elevator.
- Stay away from windows.
If you live on a farm:
- The government says not to worry about the cattle, who will hear and feel the coming twists and turns. If your family is at risk, don’t worry about the livestock. If personal safety is not a concern, the government advises, you may have time to open escape routes for your livestock. He advises leaving the area tangent to the expected path of the tornado.
If you are in a high school, church, or auditorium:
- Large buildings with wide roofs can collapse if a twister hits, so if you’re in one of these buildings and can’t leave, try to hide under a table or desk.
Avoid vehicles and mobile homes:
- The government says more than 50 percent of all tornado deaths occur in mobile homes.
- If you are driving and spot a tornado in the distance, go to the nearest solid shelter.
- If no shelter is available, lie down in a ditch away from the vehicle or mobile home. Get as close to the ground as possible, protect your head and watch for flying debris.
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