Instantweather.ca issued a notice at 4:33 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, that a tornado had been reported with a storm at Hardisty that was moving to the northwest.
Ernie Ziegler, owner of Lakeview Liquor in Hardisty, looked north east from the store on Sunday, and saw the funnel cloud to his south west, heading in that direction, he says, across his view.
Ziegler says he thinks it touched down two or three km north of the town, but hasn’t heard of any damage.
Environment Canada issued a preliminary notice at 6:34 p.m. on Sunday, confirming that at approximately 4:30 p.m. a brief tornado was observed just north of Hardisty.
“Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) received several reports and photos of the tornado; however, there have been no reports of damage at this time.
“In collaboration with the Northern Tornadoes Project, ECCC meteorologists are seeking pictures of the tornado and/or any damage it may have caused. Should you have any information regarding this event, or to report severe weather at any time, please email abstorm@ec.gc.ca, or post to #abstorm on X (formerly Twitter).”
Earlier in the day, the region was under a special weather statement from Environment Canada warning that conditions were favourable for the development of funnel clouds.
“These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.”
Environment Canada warns, “Treat any funnel cloud sighting seriously. Should a funnel cloud develop nearby, prepare to take shelter. These funnel clouds usually appear with little or no warning.”
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
