Extreme weather impacted southern Saskatchewan over the weekend, with reports of a tornado. At 4:11 pm CST on Sunday, Environment Canada confirmed a tornado located about 10 kilometers outside Kelso, Sask., moving northeast at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. Kelso, Wapella, Kenosee Lake, and Whitewood were all placed under a red level tornado warning at 4:12 pm CST. Another red level tornado warning was issued near Alameda, Oxbow, and Glen Ewen at 3:46 pm CST on Sunday due to a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.
The tornado warning near Regina, specifically around Serath, was lifted at 11:55 am CST after being issued at 11:40 am CST on Sunday. Severe thunderstorm warnings and rainfall warnings were disseminated for various communities across south and central Saskatchewan, including Saskatoon, Yorkton, and Regina. Meteorologist Chris Stammer from Environment and Climate Change Canada explained that a strong low-pressure system moving into the province on Sunday triggered the severe storms.
Significant rainfall and hail, including golf ball-sized hail near Estevan, were reported, along with multiple tornado warnings. In areas experiencing thunderstorms, up to 100 millimeters of rainfall is expected over Sunday and Monday. In Regina, heavy rainfall flooded underpasses, prompting Regina Police to advise motorists to avoid specific underpass locations.
Stammer mentioned that while the worst of the severe thunderstorms is expected to subside on Sunday, strong winds exceeding 90 kilometers per hour are forecasted from Swift Current to Estevan starting late Monday morning through the evening.
