Weekend weather brings funnel cloud sightings in southern Sask.

Some people in southern Saskatchewan had their eyes on the sky over the weekend as a summer storm rolled through the province.

Severe thunderstorms and rainfall warnings were in place for multiple regions on Saturday and Sunday.

The low-moving system meant conditions were ripe for funnel clouds to form throughout the southern part of the province.

Eric Dykes with Environment Canada says the weather office received at least three reports of these clouds forming near residential areas.

“We had two on Saturday, one that was near Indian Head and one that was south of Abernathy,” Dykes claimed. “And then Sunday, there was a storm that had a severe warning on it for a while. It produced a funnel cloud near the Bethune and Regina Beach areas.”

Indian head near 1pm cst from a facebook page #skstorm pic.twitter.com/4dqkKKwlZu

— Eric Stromberg (@Cire605) May 7, 2022

Despite the sightings, Dykes says Environment Canada didn’t get any reports of any tornadoes touching down.

“As we get into summer storm season here, they become quite prevalent with things such as cold lows which help these types of phenomena develop,” Dykes said when asked about the clouds.

“Into the latter part of May and right through the summer months, they will be around.”

Small funnel earlier on the #skstorm currently almost over Regina Beach. https://t.co/BTi3yvHmoA

— Gunjan Sinha PhD (@gunjansinha2017) May 8, 2022

Dane Rogers works in Indian Head. He recalled seeing the funnel cloud on Saturday as both exciting and terrifying.

“It was hard to judge if it was going to really start,” Rogers said. “If it touched down it looked like it would have taken us out.

“We did not have a basement. Where would a guy hunker down?”

Aside from the strong winds of more than 80 kilometres per hour, nickel- to golf ball-sized hail and up to an inch of rain, Environment Canada says it didn’t see any reports of significant damage.

Wet and blustery conditions are expected to persist throughout parts of the province throughout the week, with there being a chance of another strong system making its way to the province by Friday or Saturday.