Alberta: Thunderstorm Forecast for Friday, May 19, 2023

There is the potential for pop-up thunderstorms across much of Central and Southern Alberta on Friday afternoon. These storms will track eastward throughout the day and cross out of the province by the evening. While the storm threat should remain non-severe for the most part, there are some indications about an isolated severe risk to the east of Calgary and Red Deer. Locations including Camrose, Drumheller, Strathmore and Brooks may see moderate size hail, 90 km/h wind gusts and maybe even an isolated landspout. The rest of the province should see just non-severe storms.

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.