First tornadoes of the season, thunderstorms threaten Saskatchewan

While there were no immediate reports of twisters touching down, a number of severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect for dozens of R.M.s and the City of Regina, raising the risk of lightning strikes in many areas already tinder-dry and considered at extreme risk of wildfires.

Read more:

• Quebec lends forest fire teams to battle Saskatchewan and Ontario blazes
• Northern Sask. outfitter encourages extreme caution this wildfire season

Springside. Tornado warmed storm #skstorm pic.twitter.com/12z14TJrKU

— Tracy Kerestesh (@KeresteshTracy) May 12, 2025

Tornadoes in May are not unheard of in Saskatchewan but are fairly rare, with most twisters occurring in the months of June, July and August.

A crazy day at the end of June in 2024 brought a dozen tornado warnings, with five twisters touching down in the province, as well as huge hailstones.

The tornadoes touched down in Gravelbourg, Radisson, Aberdeen, Meadow Lake, and the RM of Bayne near Bruno. Carrot River near Nipawin was also hit hard.

As well, 2024 saw one the latest recorded tornadoes, which touched down on Sept. 18. near Moosomin.

Funny clouds and thunder reaching Ituna #skstorm pic.twitter.com/qJKOYMp8dw

— Ryan Kennedy (@Kennedy224Ryan) May 12, 2025

18 active wildfires in province

There were 18 active fires burning in Saskatchewan on Monday, most in the northern half of the province.

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said in its daily report on May 12 that six of those blazes were not contained, while another four of the fires were under ongoing assessment. Six fires were considered contained.

Contained means suppression action is taking place and the fire is not expected to grow in size, ongoing Assessment means the fire is being monitored regularly to assess risk to values in the area and not contained means suppression action is taking place but the fire is expected to grow in size, according to SPSA.

Fires not contained included a 608 hectare blaze at Keeley Lake, north of Green Lake; 14,500 hectares burning at Lower Fishing Lake; and north of Snowden, a massive 20,350 hectares was on fire. Firefighters were being supported by helicopters, air tankers and heavy equipment at all three.

Map of active fires in Saskatchewan on May 12, 2025 (Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency)

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As well, fire bans are active in 47 urban municipalities, 120 rural municipalities and 19 provincial parks in the province, with the fire danger considered extreme over much of the southern part of Saskatchewan.

See a map of areas with a fire ban here.

SPSA says there have been 147 fires in Saskatchewan so far in 2025.  The five-year average to date for Saskatchewan wildfires is 81.

Byron Chartrand, the executive director of land management with the SPSA, said on Friday the bans are due to the current dry conditions and have come earlier this year than in the past.

He said there’s been minimal lightning this year, so all the fires so far have been caused by human activity, but that might change with Monday’s storms.

Apart from the wildfire risk, lightning is also a danger to people.

The Government of Canada says that there are an average of between two and three lightning-related deaths and 80 lightning-related injuries across the country every year. Most injuries and fatalities occur between June and August, and most fatalities were people in open areas or taking shelter under a tree.

Environment and Climate Change Canada was forecasting storms in most of the province would clear by Tuesday, with a return to seasonal temperatures for the remainder of the week.

Read more:

• Quebec lends forest fire teams to battle Saskatchewan and Ontario blazes
• Northern Sask. outfitter encourages extreme caution this wildfire season