Environment Canada has confirmed four tornadoes touched down across southeastern Saskatchewan during a powerful storm system Thursday afternoon, with additional funnel reports still under investigation.
The first tornado touched down near Hirsch around 4:20 p.m., followed by three successive tornadoes in the Frobisher area shortly after — recorded at 4:40, 4:45, and 4:49 p.m., according to Environment Canada meteorologist Eric Dykes.
“What we saw on radar were high reflectivities and a well-defined hook echo, which is a classic signature for rotation,” said Dykes. “Doppler radar showed strong spin, which prompted us to issue tornado warnings.”
Storm chasers on the ground were already tracking the supercell, including Braydon Morisseau, who witnessed three of the four confirmed tornadoes.
“We started our chase near Weyburn and tracked the storm as it moved southeast,” said Morisseau. “It looked like it might fizzle out at one point, but it quickly ramped back up. We ended up seeing three tornadoes near Frobisher — all high-contrast and visible.”
Morisseau, who regularly chases storms across the Prairies, said the tornadoes mostly remained in rural areas.
“There was some damage to power poles, a few lease sites, and minor equipment damage — but thankfully, no reports of injuries,” he said. “That’s always a relief.”
Another storm chaser in the area, Aaron Rigsby, reported tennis-ball-sized hail near one of the storm cells, which ripped the side mirror off his vehicle.
Environment Canada said rainfall totals ranged from 20 to 40 millimetres in affected zones, and golf ball-sized hail was reported in several communities. The storms formed along a warm front and intensified quickly during the late afternoon hours.
The agency is also investigating reports of additional tornadoes southeast of Regina, which may push the confirmed count higher.
Morisseau cautioned that the weekend could bring more severe weather.
“We’re watching the same setup for Saturday in southeast Saskatchewan and Sunday in southern Manitoba,” he said. “If you're in those areas, stay weather-aware and keep an eye on alerts.”
Environment Canada continues to assess damage reports and encourages the public to share photos or video evidence through their online severe weather reporting tool.
A video shot by Morisseu of the storm can be viewed below