Alberta: Thunderstorm Forecast for Thursday, May 11, 2023

Pop-up thunderstorms are possible along the Rockies and into Central Alberta including Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton. These storms should remain non-severe with small hail as the main threat. However, there is the potential for funnel clouds and even an isolated landspout.

Landspout: A landspout is a type of tornado that forms under a weak thunderstorm. Unlike traditional tornadoes, which develop from supercell thunderstorms and are associated with a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone, landspouts form from non-supercell storms and do not have a mesocyclone. These tornadoes are generally weaker and shorter-lived than their supercell counterparts but can still pose a threat to property and life, with wind speeds occasionally reaching up to 160 km/h.