A tornado touched down near Drayton Valley, Alta., toppling trees but avoiding major damage. Officials confirm it stemmed from a supercell thunderstorm.
Tornado Confirmed Near Lodgepole, Alberta
A tornado touched down on Wednesday afternoon in central Alberta, just west of Drayton Valley, causing tree damage but sparing nearby homes and communities. The twister formed from a powerful “supercell” thunderstorm that moved through the region, prompting immediate alerts from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
Eyewitnesses Spot Rapid Twister Formation
Storm chaser Trenten Pentelichuk was on the scene near the hamlet of Lodgepole, approximately 175 kilometres southwest of Edmonton. He had been monitoring storm activity all afternoon when conditions escalated. “Around 4 p.m., things kind of started taking off,” he said, noting the quick development of the tornado. He and his team tracked the tornado as it touched down, later using a drone to assess the aftermath.
Damage Assessment Reveals Minimal Impact
The tornado cut through a forested area, toppling several trees but avoiding nearby farmlands. “It was, I guess, what you’d call an ideal spot for a tornado,” Pentelichuk added. No injuries or structural damages have been reported, making it a relatively mild event in terms of impact.
Research Team Verifies Tornado Event
The Northern Tornadoes Project, a team of researchers based at Western University, confirmed the tornado’s occurrence on Thursday. Project director Dave Sills explained that damage patterns—particularly the narrow, elongated trail through trees—help determine whether a tornado formed. “We’ll be looking at the number of trees down and over what area,” Sills said.
Meteorologists Explain Storm Origins
ECCC meteorologist Brian Proctor confirmed the tornado developed from a supercell thunderstorm, a powerful system common on the Canadian Prairies. He noted that such storms are especially prone to creating rotating funnels. “We’ve seen what appears to be tornado debris across a treed area, with trees laid in opposite directions—indicative of rotation,” Proctor stated.
Tornado Season Trends in Alberta
This marks the fourth confirmed tornado in Alberta so far this summer. In contrast, Saskatchewan has already recorded 12 tornadoes—nearing its seasonal average of 14 to 15. While Alberta typically sees fewer tornadoes than its eastern neighbour, this event is part of an active season across the Prairies.
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