Environment Canada issues Tornado Warnings for parts of southern Alberta

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued Tornado Warnings for areas of southern Alberta Wednesday.

Multiple warnings were put in place after a Tornado Watch was put in place at around 2:30 p.m. for numerous areas, including Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan, Rockyview County, Taber, and Milk River.

The ECCC says this is due to the favourable conditions for the development of thunderstorms, which can also produce tornadoes.

“This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation,” reads a statement from ECCC.

“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.”

It also says strong winds, large hail, and heavy rain are possible.

Some areas that had warnings include Brooks, Taber, Enchant, and as of 6 p.m., Cessford Wardlow and Pollockville.

For those with a tornado warning in the area, the ECCC recommends going indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, like a basement, bathroom, stairwell, or interior closet.

It recommends those in mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers, and other temporary or free-standing shelters leave and move to a more substantial building, if possible.

“As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year,” the statement reads.

“Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors.”

When the warning was first put in place, it was for Taber near Enchant, Lethbridge County, Picture Butte, and Vauxhall.

Heads up.

Official Tornado Alert for M.D. of Taber near Enchant, Co. of Lethbridge near Picture Butte and Turin, and M.D. of Taber near Vauxhall and Hays. #yeg #yyc #abwx pic.twitter.com/DEhyGy6Nhv

— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) June 14, 2023

Sightings of near-tornado touchdowns

Robin Haller says he noticed a tornado developing southwest of his father’s farm near Enchant at around 3:30 p.m., which “seemed to disappear.”

“And then maybe 15-20 minutes later, this bigger one appeared really close to my dad’s farm,” he told CityNews.

“As we watched it, it seems to be going in a kind of a north direction. And then it kind of turned east, and it actually ended up getting within a mile and a half of my dad’s house, and it overturned one of our neighbour’s 7 Tower Pivot’s right upside down on the ground, so the tires are sticking up in the air.”

He says no injuries have been reported.

A few storm chasers say a landspout tornado touched down near Iron Springs, about 30 km from Lethbridge. It has since dissipated.

TORNADO near Iron Springs #abstorm

Has lifted as of 238PM pic.twitter.com/hz4bndrJE8

— Kyle Brittain (@BadWeatherKyle) June 14, 2023

For more information, the ECCC says to continue monitoring alerts and forecasts, and if anyone needs to report severe weather, email ABstorm@ec.gc.ca.