A flurry of thunderstorm activity in Saskatchewan caused a flood of funnel cloud posts to pour in on social media.
Pictures of dark skies and humble beginnings of funnel clouds were shared on twitter Tuesday – a day where conditions were hailed as perfect for storm formation on the prairies.
John Paul Cragg, warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada, said the areas most affected are in the region from Prince Albert down to Outlook, and east along the Manitoba border.
Environment Canada issued a weather statement for that area, which includes Saskatoon, saying an unstable airmass will lead to shower and thunderstorm development late Tuesday morning and afternoon.
“We’re seeing some weak thunderstorms forming, and with those thunderstorms we’re seeing a lot of funnel clouds developing,” Cragg said.
According to the weather statement, these types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms; this weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground.
Cragg confirmed the clouds in these types of storms don’t typically touch the ground; instead, a few weak landspout tornadoes could form.
Additionally, severe thunderstorm watches were issued for the areas including and surrounding Carlyle, Oxbow, Estevan, Weyburn, Moosomin and Grenfell.
Those watches say conditions in the region are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.
“A trough of low pressure located over southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba will allow for thunderstorm development (Tuesday) afternoon and evening. Some of these thunderstorms may become severe,” Environment Canada said.
The watch also reminds people large hail can damage property and cause injury, while strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.
These severe thunderstorms could also produce tornadoes, while heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.
People are reminded to check conditions before heading outdoors.
Sustained pea sized hail west of #YPA. Not good for crops. #skstorm pic.twitter.com/lglQKT73cF
— Jason Everitt (@Chief_Everitt) July 5, 2016
Gotta love summer storms. #ypa #skstorm pic.twitter.com/G6njqILPRe
— Jason Everitt (@Chief_Everitt) July 5, 2016
Getting quite a dark storms feeling here right now, got a Thunderstorm passing thru Tisdale #skstorm @PQuinlanGlobal pic.twitter.com/rDZizPH9DQ
— Edwin Pierrot (@edwinpierrot26) July 5, 2016
#skstorm pic.twitter.com/lg2NdABNvs
— My Info (@lebrad1) July 5, 2016
@PQuinlanGlobal @TiffanyGlobal the wild storm clouds *tried* to make a funnel at noon over Canora #skstorm pic.twitter.com/DnjhPTRW8e
— Lisa Boychuk (@GFstormchaser) July 5, 2016