Environment Canada confirms landspout tornado touched down in southern Alberta Monday

Environment Canada has confirmed that a tornado did indeed touch down in southern Alberta on Monday as a powerful storm swept across the region.

Ping pong ball-sized hail was seen in Calgary and Okotoks on Monday, and a weak landspout tornado touched down south of Okotoks, Environment Canada said in a weather summary published late Monday night.

The tornado was reported to have touched down around 2:44 p.m. and lasted 10 minutes, the weather agency said.

Environment Canada said no damage has been reported.

The tornado was given a preliminary rating of EF-O.

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Environment Canada also observed large hail in areas in and around Calgary.

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Calgary and Okotoks both reported hail that was 35 millimetres in diameter.

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That is equivalent to the size of a ping-pong ball.