Alberta Emergency Alert reported at 3:48 p.m. Saturday, that a tornado had touched down west of St. Paul that “may cause injury or damage.”
“Close doors and windows. Be prepared to seek shelter off the road. If you are on the highway and cannot avoid the storm, seek shelter in a ditch or ravine if a tornado approaches. Take all necessary precautions,” the provincial government agency said.
Shortly before 4 p.m., the Region of St. Paul Emergency Management Agency posted on its Facebook page: “A funnel cloud has touched down south west of Saddle Lake.”
The critical alert was cancelled at 4:23 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., Environment Canada stated it did not believe a tornado had touched down, despite the earlier alerts from AEA,
St. Paul County is about 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
WATCH BELOW: Wild winds swept across parts of Alberta this weekend.
Click here to see the latest watches and warnings from the weather agency.
Earlier in the afternoon, at 3:19 p.m., a tornado watch was issued for parts of St. Paul, Lac La Biche, Bonnyville and Smoky Lake counties.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms, which may produce tornadoes,” Environment Canada said.
The tornado warnings for Lamont and Smoky Lake counties had been lifted by 4:08 p.m.
Earlier in the day, Environment Canada said meteorologists were “tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible.
“This severe thunderstorm is located near Hilliard and is moving northeast at 50 km/h. This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches. If you hear a roaring sound, see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, or flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately.”
Lamont County is about 90 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.
The tornado warning was extended to the Smoky Lake County area near Vilna Saddle Lake and Whitefish Lake at 3:07 p.m. Saturday.
Just after 4 p.m., Alberta Emergency Alert said the tornado warning issued for Smoky Lake County had been downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning.
Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings were also issued late Saturday morning and afternoon for parts of east central and southern Alberta.
READ MORE: Heat warning issued for much of Alberta
“An area of showers and thunderstorms are forecast to develop through portions of central Alberta this afternoon then move to the northeast. These thunderstorms will continue into the evening hours,” the weather agency said.
READ MORE: American storm chasers in Alberta ahead of ‘potential outbreak of tornadic supercells’
The potential for severe weather in Alberta this weekend has drawn American storm chasers to north of the border in hopes of getting in on the action.
“We’re going to have a lot of dynamics tomorrow afternoon and evening,” Reed Timmer, a meteorologist and storm chaser with AccuWeather, said Friday.
Timmer said he and his crew will target the areas east and northeast of Edmonton on Saturday afternoon “for a potential outbreak of even tornadic supercells.”
Watch below: A couple of extreme weather experts have arrived in Alberta to chase some storms. Reed Timmer and Braydon Morisseau join Kent Morrison to talk super cells, adrenaline and keeping the public informed.
You can follow Timmer and the Prairie Storm Chasers on social media.
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Watch below: Weather expert Kevin O’Connell has our weather forecast for what is expected to be an active day for Alberta weather.