Pop-up thunderstorms are possible is Southwestern Alberta along the Rockies on Friday afternoon. This includes Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge. While these storms are expected to remain non-severe, there is the environment present that could allow for the development of landspout tornadoes. Although it’s questionable.
Scattered non-severe thunderstorms are possible across Alberta on Thursday
Thunderstorms are currently not expected across Alberta on Wednesday.
Thunderstorms are currently not expected across Alberta on Tuesday.
Thunderstorms are currently not expected across Alberta on Monday.
Thunderstorms are currently not expected across Alberta on Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon and evening, there is a significant severe risk expected in parts of Central Alberta. Isolated storms are likely to develop, particularly around Rocky Mountain House and to the east, in an environment conducive for rapid intensification.
The area of major concern extends from Edmonton to just north of Calgary, where storms have the potential to produce exceptionally large hail, reaching the size of baseballs or even softballs. Alongside the hail risk, damaging wind gusts exceeding 115 km/h and the possibility of several tornadoes are also notable concerns.
The severe threat will persist into the evening, stretching all the way to the Saskatchewan border. However, the primary focus for the hail and tornado risk will be during the earlier stages of the storms, transitioning more into a wind threat as time progresses.
Saturday's tornado threat is expected to be the strongest so far this year in Canada, with the environment indicating the potential for several tornadoes. Areas encompassing Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Camrose, and Red Deer are particularly at risk.
There may also be a chance of one or two tornadoes along the Saskatchewan border and surrounding regions within the several tornadoes threat zone, including Calgary and Lloydminster.
There is the risk of severe thunderstorms in parts of Central Alberta during the afternoon and evening on Friday. The strongest risk is through the Edmonton, Drayton Valley and Edson region where we have a slight risk of severe storms. Our main concern with these localized pop-up storms will be the potential for very large hail ranging from toonie to golf ball sized and 90km/h wind gusts. Tornadoes are possible along the Edmonton to Calgary corridor.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop to the west of Edmonton around Jasper and Rocky Mountain House during the afternoon on Thursday. As these storms track eastward, they could become severe with hail up to the size of toonies and 90 km/h wind gusts being the main threats. The potential for funnel clouds which may touch down and become a landspout tornado can’t be ruled out either.
There is the risk of non-severe thunderstorms extending from Medicine Hat through Banff and into Northern Alberta. Isolated pop-up cells are expected to develop after the lunch hour. At the moment, it doesn’t appear that they will reach severe levels.
Isolated non-severe thunderstorms are possible across all of Alberta on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
There is the risk of thunderstorms in across Alberta during the afternoon and evening on Monday. A few of these storms may reach severe levels around the Edmonton and Fort Mac region. The main risks include 90 km/h wind gusts and up to loonie-sized hail. Funnel clouds are also possible which in rare cases, can touch down and become a landspout tornado.
Isolated non-severe thunderstorms are possible across Central Alberta including the Calgary to Edmonton corridor on Sunday. These storms may also produce funnel clouds which in rare cases can touch down and become a landspout tornado.
Scattered thunderstorms are possible on Saturday for much of Southern Alberta with the exception of the region to the northeast of Calgary. These storms are expected to remain non-severe with most of the storms occurring primarily during the afternoon and evening hours.
There is the risk of non-severe thunderstorms across much of Alberta including through the foothills, Rockies, into Edmonton and Northern Alberta. These storms will primarily affect the province late afternoon and early evening. They should be pretty weak, but there are some indications that the environment could support funnel cloud development. Funnel clouds don’t typically pose a threat to land, but in rare cases, they can touch down and become a landspout tornado. The funnel cloud risk is highest in the Red Deer and Edmonton regions.
Non-severe thunderstorms are expected late Thursday across Northern Alberta to the north and west of Edmonton.
Thunderstorms are currently not expected across Alberta on Wednesday.
Thunderstorms are currently not expected across Alberta on Tuesday.
Pop-up thunderstorms are expected around Edmonton and to the northeast during the afternoon and evening on Monday. These storms are expected to remain non-severe. However, the environment is favourable for funnel cloud development. In rare cases, funnel clouds can touch down and become a landspout tornado. This landspout risk stretches from Leduc through Camrose and into Cold Lake.
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.
There is the potential for thunderstorm action in Central and Southeastern Alberta. Places like Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat could experience isolated pop-up storms during the afternoon and evening on Sunday. Now, most of these storms are expected to stay non-severe. With the exception of an area east of Calgary, as one or two storms may reach severe levels with quarter-sized hail and 90 km/h wind gusts
We're keeping a close watch on conditions that could lead to funnel cloud development. In fact, the environment looks quite strong and may result in several landspout tornadoes. The current data suggest that the target area for these landspouts is quite similar to the region that witnessed landspouts earlier this week. This includes High River, north of Lethbridge, and into Brooks.
As you can see on our map, the highest risk for landspouts falls within the highlighted zone. However, it's important to note that these landspouts could still occur anywhere within both the severe and non-severe risk areas.
