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Tornado warnings dropped for southern Alberta: Environment Canada

Tornado warnings were issued for southern Alberta Thursday. Environment and Climate Change Canada

A tornado warning issued for parts of southern Alberta late Thursday afternoon was dropped within 40 minutes.

A severe thunderstorm warning in southern Alberta was upgraded to include tornado warnings around the Carmangay and Lomond areas just before 5:30 p.m.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued the alert, saying a severe thunderstorm in the area is producing a tornado.

“This thunderstorm is located five kilometres northwest of Carmangay and is moving to the southeast at 55 km/h,” the weather agency said.

An Alberta Emergency Alert was shared at 5:24 p.m.

All tornado warnings were dropped by 6:05 p.m.

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The system was showing rotation on the radar and quickly began to track east, and the warning was expanded to include the communities of Tabor, Enchant, Lomond, Travers and Little Bow Reserves and later, the towns of Enchant, Turin, Picture Butte and Vauxhall.

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During the warnings ECCC issued instructions to anyone in the pathway.

“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.”

According to Alberta Emergency Alert, as of 6:05 p.m. all tornado warnings in Alberta had been dropped.

Global viewer Rhonda Schacterle sent in a photo she took from her campsite at Little Bow Resort at Travers Reservoir.

Schacterle told Global News she was looking out her window around 5:35 p.m. and saw the funnel cloud forming on the other side of the lake.

Rhonda Schacterle was camping in southern Alberta when a tornado warning was issued.
Rhonda Schacterle was camping in southern Alberta when a tornado warning was issued. Rhonda Schacterle

She said they heard the Alberta Emergency Alerts and felt prepared to deal with whatever the storm might bring. Also that she was not surprised at this storm changing so quickly.

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“Actually we were out here when the other alert went off around Lomond (last week),” said Schacterle.

For the latest weather watches and warnings click here. 

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