Environment Canada has issued a tornado watch for a large area of southeastern Saskatchewan today.
John Paul Cragg, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the conditions are right for severe weather.
“It’s a good set-up today,” he said. “People should be careful.”
The watch area extends from Saskatoon to Moose Jaw and all areas east and south.
Although the temperatures are not expected to rise significantly today, Cragg said severe weather is possible when the air in the upper atmosphere is colder than the air below. On the Prairies, the upper air can be quite cold, he said, and that’s why hail forms.
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“You can get really strong storms even when it’s 15 degrees outside.”
The watch comes after at least two confirmed tornadoes on Saturday. Cragg said reliable reports came from south of Minton and near Redvers.
Hail ranging from quarter-size to grapefruit-size was reported throughout the Weyburn area. Crops were flattened and buildings damaged.
The storm system also affected Manitoba. The Reston and Pipestone areas were hit hard, and Manitoba premier Greg Selinger was traveling to Pipestone today to survey the damage.
