Sask. thunderstorms bring tornadoes, lightning

It was a wild Thursday for weather across southern and central Saskatchewan, as a storm system swept through spawning frequent lightning and a few landspout tornadoes.

Two weak tornadoes were spotted around 3:30 p.m. in the province’s southeast. One was caught on video by a farmer near Tyvan, about an hour southeast of Regina, while another was captured by social media users near Esterhazy.

Just at the other end of the field… finally got some rain… #SKstorm #dustbowl #plant18 pic.twitter.com/ZtVmjdbCgD

— Derick (@DWarren21) May 25, 2018

Environment Canada said landspout tornadoes are less powerful than those generated by super-storm cells, but they can still pose a danger to people.

Taken today between, 3:20 and 3:30 near Esterhazy #Saskatchewan by Chris Bohlken #Skstorm pic.twitter.com/cBnme1ogyb

— Ryan Wünsch (@ryanwunsch) May 25, 2018

People in the path of the storms were also treated to an extended light show.

Environment Canada meteorologist Antoine Petit said the Regina area saw 6,947 lightning strikes Thursday, while Saskatoon saw 2,059.

got home after the main storm passed and grabbed a couple photos of the lightning as it moved away. What a show! #skstorm #yxe #bigoneshookthehouse pic.twitter.com/GrzkkiDxpb

— Loch Willy (@lochwilly) May 25, 2018

A LOT of lightning in the storm sweeping through #yxe right now! I love a good storm. Stay safe folks! #skstorm pic.twitter.com/DOXCob53Yf

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) May 25, 2018

May 24th lightning map for the Canadian Prairies.
Lightning strikes count within a 50 km radius of the city:
Brandon 11 756#Winnipeg 3059#Regina 6947
Estevan 3929#MBstorm #SKstorm #ABstorm pic.twitter.com/JxpmRuEdVY

— Antoine Petit (@MeteoAntoine) May 25, 2018

The thunderstorms only provided sporadic rainfall though, barely dampening extremely dry conditions in some areas.

Environment Canada reported only 0.4 millimetres of rain at their gauge in Regina, while Saskatoon saw 3.3 millimetres.

However, the weather agency’s Saskatoon gauge is located at the airport in the city’s north end.

Residents in eastern neighbourhoods reported their rain gauges collected up to 12.5 millimetres of rain from the Thursday evening storm.

12.5 mm in the rain gauge in east #saskatoon from last night's #skstorm

— Rhubarbtime (@rhubarbtime65) May 25, 2018