Parts of eastern Saskatchewan endured a wild night of weather on Thursday night, including a series of tornadoes that touched down from southeast to central Saskatchewan. Fortunately, no significant damage or injuries were reported as of Friday morning, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Eric Dykes, meteorologist with the agency, confirmed that multiple tornadoes were observed during a fast-moving system that began in the southeast of the province and developed further to the northeast through the evening.
"Luckily, we haven't heard any reports of widespread damage or injury or death — thank goodness — from any of the tornadoes that did occur yesterday," Dykes said. “That being said, that’s preliminary, and we’re in the midst of confirming how many tornadoes touched down, their paths, and their EF-scale strength.”
The first tornado was reported near Hirsch, east of Estevan, around 4:20 p.m. Thursday. That same thunderstorm cell produced several more tornadoes shortly thereafter, including three near Frobisher just minutes apart.
Additional tornadoes were reported southwest of Davin at 5:05 p.m., near Odessa at 5:52 p.m., and then farther north near Young at 6:18 p.m. The last reported tornado touched down near Hubbard at 9:10 p.m., just as sunset approached.
Despite the number of touchdowns — potentially as many as eight — Dykes emphasized that forecasters had anticipated at least a few tornadoes due to highly favorable atmospheric conditions.
“What basically produced the tornadoes yesterday was a warm front that coincided with a moisture-rich environment,” he explained. “We were expecting tornadoes — maybe not eight — but the conditions were right for them.”
As of Friday, the tornado threat had moved out of Saskatchewan, with the unstable air mass pushing into southern Manitoba and the northern U.S. Plains.
However, the region is not done with active weather. A new system is moving in from the west, bringing with it significant rainfall for much of Saskatchewan.
“I hope you need the rain because you’re about to get some,” Dykes said. “Looking at the ensemble forecast, we’re expecting up to 50 millimetres — or about two inches — of rain through Sunday night in the Humboldt region.”
He noted that localized totals could be higher if thunderstorms develop during the weekend.
Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to monitor the situation and is urging residents to stay informed through local alerts and weather updates.
“Even with the tornado threat diminished, the coming rain could bring other risks like localized flooding in low-lying areas,” said Dykes.
An official assessment of the tornadoes — including confirmation and strength ratings — is expected in the coming days.