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A severe weather system moved through southern Saskatchewan Sunday, bringing loads of rain and hail that eventually produced at least one tornado that was spotted by storm chasers.
Environment Canada issued widespread watches and warnings throughout Sunday, but issued its first tornado watch shortly before 5 p.m. in the Assiniboia, Gravelbourg and Coronach areas.
Nevin Demiliano spotted a tornado near Mossbank around 4:30 p.m. and told Environment Canada, so a warning could be issued.
“There was a bunch of storms that formed and we were trying to figure out which one was going to be the best, and as we’re driving, we see a tornado forming near Mossbank … and then that storm kind of fizzled out and moved north,” he said.
When 650 CKOM reached Demiliano by phone at 6 p.m., the Prairie Storm Chasers were moving from the Briercrest area, hoping to track the storm and find its strongest point. Throughout the rest of the night, storm chasers moved through neighbouring communities Tuax, Avonlea, Parry and Ogema.
Supercell West of Parry, Saskatchewan #skstorm @PrairieChasers 8:00PM pic.twitter.com/hyR49K1g4m
— Braydon Morisseau (@BraydonMoreSo) July 8, 2019
Demiliano had simple advice for anyone caught in the path of the storm.
“If you get a warning, it’s time to take cover — these storms are serious business tonight,” he said.
Environment Canada meteorologist Blaine Lowry said the storm’s intensity is not subsiding as it moves northeast across southern Saskatchewan.
“It’s continuing to exhibit rotation on Doppler (radar),” he said. “It is that situation where it could develop a tornado at any moment.”
Environment Canada is advising anyone under a tornado warning to move indoors to a room on the lowest floor, stay away from windows and walls.
“If you have a basement, that would be a good place to head. If you don’t, an interior room is a good place to be,” Lowry said.
The storm also took a turn before it could hammer Regina shortly after 7 p.m.
“The funny thing is the severe (storms) have seemed to have split north and south of Regina, so for anyone who’s actually in Regina, it may seem liek they’re not really moving in, but they are slowly moving off to the east,” Lowry said.
As of early Monday morning, Environment Canada couldn’t confirm whether or not a tornado had touched down.
