Saskatoon and area could see funnel clouds, landspout tornadoes

WATCH: After some wild weather in Saskatchewan on Thursday, meteorologists are investigating whether there are confirmed tornadoes. Mick Favel has more.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) warned residents in Saskatoon and across west-central Saskatchewan to look out for potential funnel clouds on Monday afternoon and evening.

In an alert around 6:15 p.m., a tornado warning was issued for the RM of Morris, including Watrous, Young, and Zelma.

According to the weather service, meteorologist were tracking a severe thunderstorm that was possibly producing a tornado, with damaging winds, large hail, and locally intense rainfall also possible.

Around 6:30 p.m., ECCC updated the tornado warning to include the RM of Usborne, including Lanigan, Drake, and Guernsey.

For updated watches and warnings throughout Monday night, visit ECCC.

In a special weather statement late Monday morning, Environment Canada said conditions are favourable for the development of funnel clouds, generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms.

“There is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado,” the federal weather service said in the statement.

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Landspout tornadoes don’t usually cause major damages but can still be dangerous, ECCC says. They’re often strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.

“Treat any funnel cloud sighting seriously. Should a funnel cloud develop nearby, prepare to take shelter. These funnel clouds usually appear with little or no warning,” the statement read.

The risk of funnel clouds affects the Saskatoon metropolitan area, the RM Arm River, Aberdeen, Corman Park, Laird and Great Bend — and any townships adjoining those areas.

By Monday afternoon, portions of west-central Saskatchewan were upgraded to a tornado watch. The watch covers a broad area running from about Onion Lake in the northwest corner to Elrose at its southeast border.

The federal weather service advises anyone who sees a tornado to seek shelter.

“Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.”

The conditions are expected to last until Monday evening.

According to the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University, over half of all tornadoes form between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and annual tornado activity tends to peak in July.

A 30-year dataset collected by ECCC from 1980 to 2009 showed Saskatchewan had the highest annual incidence of tornadoes in Canada, with an average of about 17.6.

On Thursday, a powerful storm system that passed through southern Saskatchewan generated eight likely tornadoes, although meteorologists are still working to confirm the details.