PHOTOS: Severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings hit Saskatchewan

Severe storm watches and warnings blanketed much of central Saskatchewan on Friday afternoon.

The warnings included areas like Biggar, where 980 CJME reporter Gillian Massie spotted at least one funnel cloud that appeared to be near the Springwater area, just southwest of the town.

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Speaking by telephone from the west side of the town, she described what she saw just after 3 p.m.

A number of people reported the possible landspout tornado forming near Springwater, west of Biggar on July 3, 2026. (Jessie Barber/Submitted)

“I can see almost a funnel cloud peeking out of the clouds right now. It doesn’t look like it’s very strong, but it’s certainly peeking out and it’s been staying like that for the last couple of minutes,” she said.

Massie described the area where she saw the funnel cloud, or land spout tornado, as mostly farmer’s fields with a few homes and other structures.

“There’s dark storm clouds all around me… but stuff looks like its churning up pretty good and there are definitely dark storm clouds.”

Threatening clouds forming near Springwater, west of Biggar on July 3, 2026. (Jessie Barber/Submitted)

According to a social media post from a group called “Saskatchewan Storm Watch,” a land spout tornado may have been spotted by a number of people about 20 kilometres southwest of the town.

The R.M. of Biggar, the Battlefords, the R.M. of Eldon and Lloydminster were put under a severe thunderstorm watch on Friday afternoon, with Environment Canada saying conditions were favourable for severe thunderstorms to develop, that could bring winds up to 90km/h, golf ball sized hail and heavy rainfall.

A severe thunderstorm alert was issued again at 3:10 p.m. for R.M. of Biggar, including Biggar and Springwater, as well as the R.M. of Round Valley, warning of a storm capable of producing damaging wind gusts, loonie to ping pong ball size hail and heavy rain.

A possible landspout tornado near Springwater west of Biggar on July 3, 2026. (Jill Barber/Submitted)

At 3:42 p.m. a red “extreme” tornado warning was issued for the R.M. of Rudy and the R.M. of Fertile Valley after a twister was spotted near Conquest, moving northeast at 40 km/h, Outlook and Broderick look to be in its path.

Photo taken near Edam, SK on July 3, 2026. (Submitted)

Hail the size of ping pong balls also peppered the Resort Village of Cochin as a storm passed over.

Hail the size of ping pong balls fell near Cochin, SK, on July 3, 2026. (Rob Lindsay/Submitted)

Forecasters say widespread heavy rainfall is not expected to be the main concern, but localized downpours could still cause problems, especially in areas already dealing with saturated ground or flooding concerns.

Storm movement is expected to be relatively slow, meaning rainfall amounts could add up quickly under stronger storms.

Large hail fell near Cochin, SK, on July 3, 2026. (Rob Lindsay/Submitted)

A a red “extreme” tornado warning was also issued for Saskatoon, Martensville, Langham and Warman areas on Friday night, interrupting the televised Riders game for viewers in those areas. Another red alert was issued for the RM of Leask on Friday night after a tornado was spotted over Mistawasis Lake.

— with files from westcentralonline

Read more:

• Tornado spotted near Denzil, Sask. on Thursday
• VIDEO: South Sask. River to rise as Gardiner Dam opens spillway
• ‘Worst in a decade’: Heat and rain fuel Sask. mosquito frenzy