Update: As of 6 p.m., the funnel cloud advisory continues. Environment Canada has been reporting this afternoon that funnel clouds are possible for Saskatoon and area, further west to just before Biggar, and northwest to Melfort and Tisdale. The advisory now also includes Prince Albert and Shellbrook, and the advisory continues for north to Prince Albert, Shellbrook and past Candle Lake through to the Manitoba border, then south to Kamsack and everything in between.
Landspout tornadoes don’t usually cause significant damage, but they can be strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.
Previous: There is a weather advisory in effect for Saskatoon east to the Manitoba border. Funnel clouds are possible today and Environment Canada says if conditions become more favourable for the development of landspout tornadoes, watches and warnings will be issued.
The national weather forecaster says landspout tornadoes do not usually cause significant damage but can still topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.
Communities included in the weather advisory are: Saskatoon, Humboldt, Wynyard, Wadena, Lanigan, Foam Lake, Martensville, Warman, Rosthern, Delisle, Wakaw, Kamsack, Canora, Preeceville, Hudson Bay, Porcupine Plain, Melfort, Tisdale, Nipawin, Carrot River, Yorkton, Melville and Esterhazy.
And while the month of May had plenty of rain to go around, there were not as many lightning strikes which was good news for forest firefighters. Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang says it’s actually been a trend over the past two years. Just over 18,000 lightning strikes were detected in May, compared to the average of 22,650.