Environment Canada Issues Special Weather Statement for Central Alberta
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Wednesday afternoon for much of central Alberta, warning that funnel clouds could develop and reach the ground as weak tornadoes. The statement covered a broad area from north of Edmonton to the south, including communities such as Drumheller, Hanna, Brooks and Medicine Hat.
Conditions were expected to be favourable through the afternoon and evening. The alert also stretched west to Hinton and Rocky Mountain House, east to Vegreville, and south along the QEII corridor to Claresholm.
Central Alberta weather statement
The statement said the funnel clouds would be generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. Environment Canada said that kind of rotation is normally not a danger near the ground, but it can intensify into a weak landspout tornado.
Landspout tornadoes do not usually cause significant damage, but Environment Canada said they can still be dangerous. They can be strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.
Funnel clouds near Edmonton
Environment Canada said Alberta had been in a cool spring so far, and Tuesday did not have the conditions needed to help generate the kind of big summer thunderstorms known for triggering tornadoes. The agency said the difference between a landspout and a supercell comes down to the amount of energy available, what is happening in the lower levels of the air and how much rotation is occurring in the storm clouds.
As the afternoon progressed, Environment Canada said watches and warnings would be issued if conditions became more favourable for landspout tornadoes. Tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are already producing tornadoes.
Drumheller and Medicine Hat
Environment Canada said people should always treat any funnel cloud sighting seriously because funnel clouds usually appear with little or no warning. It said people should prepare to take shelter if one developed nearby, especially in the broader stretch that included Drumheller, Hanna, Brooks and Medicine Hat.
