Landspout tornado touches down in eastern Alberta, Environment Canada confirms

The potent weather system over east central parts of Alberta did not disappoint Friday afternoon.

A special weather advisory was in place, warning about funnel clouds and thunderstorms.

The funnel clouds predicted would likely produce “weak rotation,” according to Environment Canada’s special weather advisory.

READ MORE: Funnel clouds possible in eastern Alberta Friday

Friday evening, the weather agency confirmed a landspout tornado had in fact touched down in the Mannville, Alta. area around 4 p.m.

“It looked like it grew from a weak thunderstorm – a rapidly growing weak thunderstorm – so we are calling this a landspout tornado at this point based on evidence,” explained Ron Mark, meteorologist, Environment Canada.

“It is summertime and these are the types of things that we do see during this time of year, so we just need everyone to stay alert to advisories and warnings that are issued and pay attention to the skies.”

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As the storm progressed east early in the evening, it dropped heavy pea-sized hail over the Lloydminster area.

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Resident Jason Whiting says the hail clogged sewer drains and caused water to back up on to streets “in areas that we don’t normally see that here in Lloydminster,” noting the east side of the city saw the worst of it.

READ MORE: Are clean up costs a better deal than a platinum flood proofing plan? City council facing that question 

“There’s a few spots in Lloydminster that are known to have a little more water in them after storms, but this occurrence caused a few residential streets to back up,” Whiting said.

“Hopefully houses are OK, but there are two vehicles that had to be towed.”

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Environment Canada said they have not received reports of any damage, but they are continuing to collect more information on what happened.