“Very unstable” weather conditions across central Alberta prompted a series of weather warnings Monday afternoon.
According to the Prairie and Arctic Storm Prediction Center, severe storms are forecast to develop in the foothills to central areas of the province, with the potential for heavy rain, large hail and gusty winds.
Here is a history of alerts and warnings:
CURRENT SIGNALS
At 5:52 p.m., meteorologists tracked a strong rotating thunderstorm that may have produced a tornado near Niobe, moving east at 30 kilometers per hour. The communities of Niobe and Penhold were in his path.
Officials warned residents and visitors in several counties of severe thunderstorms that could spawn tornadoes in central Alberta Monday afternoon.
“Seek immediate shelter in a basement or reinforced structure,” the alert said. “Get low and put as many walls as possible between you and the storm.
“Stay away from windows, doors and exterior walls. If you are on the freeway and cannot avoid the tornado, seek shelter in a ditch or gully.”
A tornado warning was issued for Red Deer County, specifically near Penhold, Innisfail and Bowden, at 5:50 p.m.
The storm is also capable of damaging winds, large hail and localized heavy rainfall.
Baseball sized hail was reported with this storm.
“This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation,” the tornado warning reads. “Take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
“If you hear a roar or see a funnel cloud, spinning debris near the ground, flying debris, or approaching threatening weather, take shelter immediately.
Tornado warnings are issued when thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes and severe weather occur or are likely to occur.
Tornado watches, in effect around 4 p.m., remain in effect for the following areas:
- Brazeau Co. near Brazeau Dam
- Brazeau Co. near Cynthia and Lodgepole
- Clearwater Co. near the Caroline and James River Bridge
- Clearwater Co. near Rocky Mtn House and Crimson Lake
- O’Chiese 203 Res. and Clearwater Co. near Sunchild Cree Res.
- Yellowhead Co. near Minnow and Wolf Lakes and Elk River
- Camrose Co. near Bashaw and Meeting Creek
- The city of the red deer
- Co. of Paintearth near Halkirk and Big Knife Prov. Park
- Co. of Stettler near Big Valley
- Co. of Stettler near Botha and Gadsby
- Co. of Stettler near Byemoor and Endiang
- Co. of Stettler near Donalda
- Co. of Stettler near Stettler Nevis and Rochon Sands
- Flagstaff Co. near Forestburg and Galahad
- Lacombe Co. near Clive Alix and Mirror
- Lacombe Co. near Eckville
- Lacombe Co. near Lacombe Blackfalds and Bentley
- Ponoka Co. near Ponoka and Maskwacis
- Red Deer Co. near Elnora Lousana and Delburne
- Red Deer Co. near Penhold Innisfail and Bowden
- Red Deer Co. near Pine Lake
- Red Deer Co. near Spruce View and Red Lodge Prov. Park
- Red Deer Co. near Sylvan Lake and the Stephansson House
Watches are issued by Environment Canada when atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of thunderstorms that can produce tornadoes.
Thirty minutes later, tornado watches were added for the following areas:
- Mountain View Co. near Carstairs and Stirlingville
- Mountain View Co. near Cremona and Water Valley
- Mountain View Co. near Olds and Didsbury
- Mountain View Co. near Sundre
- Rocky View Co. near Airdrie and Crossfield
- Rocky View Co. near Bottrel and Madden
- Rocky View Co. near Cochrane
- Brazeau Co. near Drayton Valley and Breton
- Co. of Wetaskiwin near Alder Flats and Winfield
- Co. of Wetaskiwin near Pigeon Lake
- Leduc Co. near Kalmar and Devon
- Leduc Co. near Warburg Thorsby and Pigeon Lake
- Ponoka Co. near Crestomere
- Ponoka Co. near Rimbey Bluffton and Hoadley
ALARM AT 6:04 p.m
The tornado warning for Sylvan Lake and Stephansson House has been lifted. Tornado watches for these and surrounding communities remained in effect. The storm passed through Markerville and continued east.
ALARM AT 5:28 p.m
Another strong storm is located 20 kilometers northwest of Markerville, moving east at 40 kilometers per hour. Officials indicated it could produce a tornado.
ALARM AT 16:33
A tornado warning was issued for Brazeau and Yellowhead counties at 4:26 p.m., 20 kilometers north of Brazeau Dam. It was moving east at 40 kilometers per hour.
The warning was short lived and ended 13 minutes later as a tornado was “no longer expected” with this thunderstorm.
ALARM AT 3:48 p.m
According to a tornado warning, a rotating thunderstorm, possibly producing a tornado, was near Rocky Mountain House moving east at 50 kilometers per hour as the storm approached that community and Codner.
That alert was downgraded until 4:03 p.m. to a tornado watch.
ALARM AT 3:29 p.m
The storm was moving east at 50 kilometers per hour, with the municipalities of Ferrier and Rocky Mountain House in its path, the warnings said.
ALARM AT 2:57 p.m
An emergency warning has been issued for Alberta indicating that a rotating thunderstorm may have spawned a tornado near Horburg, moving southeast at 35 kilometers per hour toward that community. The signal was removed at 15:30
ALARM AT 2:17 p.m
As of 2:13 p.m., the storm was located about 10 kilometers west of Saunders, moving southeast at 40 kilometers per hour.
A few minutes later, the warning was updated to include that the communities of Saunders and Ancona were in the path of the storm. That alert ended at 2:41 p.m. as the storm passed the communities.
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