Environment Canada is warning Albertans about the possible development of funnel clouds in parts of the province on Friday.
The organization issued a series of weather advisories on Friday morning for areas in southern Alberta like Vulcan and Brooks, stretching north to areas in central Alberta like Leduc and Tofield, warning “funnel clouds are expected.”
“These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms,” Environment Canada said. “This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.”
Global Calgary meteorologist Jordan Witzel notes that Environment Canada didn’t issue any official watches or warnings because severe thunderstorms weren’t likely to develop.
“Without severe storms, we won’t get typical tornadoes,” Witzel said. “What we may see is the formation of cold core funnels that are more typical in this cool and relatively stable atmosphere.”
However, Witzel warns it’s still possible these cold core funnels will touch down and become a tornado by technical measure.
“But they would form pretty high in the atmosphere and would be very, very weak if one did touch down.”
Environment Canada did issue severe thunderstorm watches in part of Alberta on Friday, east of areas listed in the weather advisories.
Alerts for: Brooks – Strathmore – Vulcan
- Co. of Newell near Bassano
- Co. of Newell near Brooks Rosemary and Duchess
- Co. of Newell near Gem
- Co. of Newell near Scandia and Kinbrook Island Prov. Park
- M.D. of Foothills near Blackie
- M.D. of Taber near Enchant
- Rocky View Co. near Chestermere Dalroy and Dalemead
- Siksika Res. 146
- Vulcan Co. near Arrowwood Herronton and Queenstown
- Vulcan Co. near Carmangay and Champion
- Vulcan Co. near Lomond Travers and Little Bow Reservoirs
- Vulcan Co. near Milo
- Vulcan Co. near Vulcan and Ensign
- Wheatland Co. near Hussar
- Wheatland Co. near Standard and Gleichen
- Wheatland Co. near Strathmore Lyalta and Carseland
Alerts for: Drumheller – Three Hills
- Kneehill Co. near Acme and Linden
- Kneehill Co. near Carbon
- Kneehill Co. near Three Hills
- Kneehill Co. near Torrington and Wimborne
- Kneehill Co. near Trochu and Huxley
- Rocky View Co. near Irricana Beiseker and Kathyrn
- A. 2 near Finnegan and Little Fish Lake Prov. Park
- Starland Co. near Michichi and Delia
- Starland Co. near Morrin and Munson
- Starland Co. near Rumsey and Rowley
- Town of Drumheller
- Wheatland Co. near Hwys 569 and 848
- Wheatland Co. near Rockyford and Rosebud
Alerts for: Red Deer – Ponoka – Innisfail – Stettler
- Camrose Co. near Bashaw and Meeting Creek
- City of Red Deer
- Co. of Paintearth near Halkirk and Big Knife Prov. Park
- Co. of Stettler near Big Valley
- Co. of Stettler near Botha and Gadsby
- Co. of Stettler near Byemoor and Endiang
- Co. of Stettler near Donalda
- Co. of Stettler near Stettler Nevis and Rochon Sands
- Flagstaff Co. near Forestburg and Galahad
- Lacombe Co. near Clive Alix and Mirror
- Lacombe Co. near Eckville
- Lacombe Co. near Lacombe Blackfalds and Bentley
- Ponoka Co. near Ponoka and Maskwacis
- Red Deer Co. near Elnora Lousana and Delburne
- Red Deer Co. near Penhold Innisfail and Bowden
- Red Deer Co. near Pine Lake
- Red Deer Co. near Spruce View and Red Lodge Prov. Park
- Red Deer Co. near Sylvan Lake and Stephansson House
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