Multiple tornado warnings hit southeast Saskatchewan Thursday. ECCC reports damaging winds, large hail, and potential tornadoes in several communities.
Severe Alerts Shake Saskatchewan’s Southeast
On Thursday afternoon, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued multiple tornado warnings for communities across southeast Saskatchewan. These urgent alerts were triggered by radar-indicated rotation and storm chaser reports of funnel clouds and possible tornado touchdowns.
Warning Timeline and Affected Areas
The first tornado warning was announced at 4:20 p.m. CST, impacting Stoughton, Arcola, Lampman, Bienfait, North Portal, Alameda, and Oxbow. By 5 p.m., an emergency alert was sent out to all mobile devices in the region, urging residents to seek shelter immediately. Over the next 30 minutes, three more tornado warnings extended coverage to over two dozen additional communities, raising alarm across the region.
What Authorities Are Saying
Kyle McAulay, meteorologist with ECCC, confirmed that although tornadoes were not officially verified by radar, multiple credible storm chasers near Estevan and Regina had reported tornado sightings.
“A warning for Regina was issued soon after the southeast alerts, based on similar storm conditions,” McAulay said. “We also monitored radar patterns just south of Saskatoon, but no ground confirmations have been made for that area.”
Eyewitness Account Near White City
Harrison Webster, a local resident, described a close encounter with what appeared to be a tornado southeast of White City.
“We had just gotten home when the emergency alert came through,” Webster recalled. “A few minutes later, my wife spotted the funnel cloud forming. It gained strength briefly, then faded.”
Safety Measures and Public Guidance
ECCC continues to advise residents under tornado warnings to take immediate shelter in basements, storm shelters, or interior rooms away from windows.
“If you spot a funnel cloud or receive a tornado alert, do not delay. Seek safety right away,” McAulay emphasized.
Current Status and Next Steps
As of Thursday evening, no major damage or injuries had been reported. ECCC is closely monitoring the evolving weather systems and has encouraged the public to follow official channels for real-time updates. Storm surveys are expected Friday to confirm any touchdowns and assess potential damage paths.
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