Tornado watch active for southeast Saskatchewan

A tornado watch has been issued for much of southeastern Saskatchewan this afternoon, with Environment Canada warning some storms could produce tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain.

Meteorologist Keane Kokolsky with the Storm Prediction Centre in Winnipeg said the southeast corner of the province was facing a “pretty volatile” setup.

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“There is a warm front really bringing in a hot and humid air mass over the extreme southeast portion of the province,” Kokolsky said.

“With that, it’s creating a pretty volatile atmosphere for severe weather this afternoon.”

The watch covers a large area of southeastern Saskatchewan, including communities around Yorkton, Melville, Weyburn, Estevan, Moosomin and areas along the Manitoba border.

Kokolsky said the main area of concern was east of Regina, south of Yorkton and toward the Manitoba boundary.

“Basically all those areas that are tucked into the southeastern portion of the province,” he said.

Kokolsky said forecasters expect supercell thunderstorms to develop and move northeast or east through the region.

“All hazards” were possible with the storms, he said.

“That’s tornadoes, large hail, damaging gusty winds and heavy rain, of course, with these storms,” Kokolsky said.

Environment Canada said hail could reach up to six centimetres in diameter, with wind gusts reaching 100 kilometres per hour. Local rainfall totals could also exceed 50 millimetres.

Kokolsky said hail could range from three to six centimetres, with a chance of larger hail depending on how the storms develop.

“For hail, with these storms that do develop, it’s going to be some fairly large hail,” he said.

He said wind gusts could reach 90 to 100 km/h, while heavy rain could bring 50 to 60 millimetres in some areas.

“You know, potential for some localized flooding,” Kokolsky said.

The tornado risk depends on whether storms remain isolated and begin rotating.

“Of course, the heightened risk of tornadoes, if storms can remain isolated and start rotating in a manner that they do, that will be capable of producing tornadoes,” he said.

Kokolsky said people in the affected areas should continue to monitor watches and warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“If your phone goes off for a tornado warning, or any other kind of alerts, careful consideration to what it says,” he said.

“Just be ready to take cover if necessary, of course. And yeah, stay safe.”

Environment Canada said people should go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, if a tornado warning is issued or threatening weather approaches.

Mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary shelters should be avoided during a tornado. As a last resort, Environment Canada said people should lie in a low spot and protect their head from flying debris.

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