Funnel clouds spotted amid thunderstorm
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/05/2023 (874 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Funnel clouds formed over Hamiota during a thunderstorm Wednesday afternoon, Environment and Climate Change Canada has confirmed.
The clouds were seen around the time a tornado warning was issued for parts of Westman around 4:30 p.m. that day.
Despite the warning, Edmonton-based meteorologist Sara Hoffman told the Sun evidence received from residents of the area don’t suggest so far that a funnel cloud touched down.
This photo provided by Westman Storm Chasers shows a funnel cloud spotted over Hamiota on Wednesday afternoon. (Submitted)
“There was a storm in the area that was conducive to creating tornadoes. That’s why the warning went out,” Hoffman said.
The difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning, she said, is the likelihood of occurrence.
“A watch means that all the conditions are there and it’s possible. A warning means it’s imminent or occurring,” she said. “In the case of this storm, we had a very large supercell thunderstorm that we could see on radar that had a lot of signatures that made it conducive to creating a tornado.”
She added that those alerts aren’t issued lightly. If someone is in an area subject to a tornado alert, Hoffman recommended people remain in their homes, move away from windows and into a basement if possible.
Under stairs and in bathrooms can also be safe places. Automobiles are not considered safe as tornadoes can lift them off the ground.
On top of the clouds, she said the storm also produced golf ball-sized hail in some parts of Manitoba.
Though it’s only May, Hoffman said Wednesday’s storm signals the start of the severe summer weather season for the Prairies.
Westman Storm Chasers told the Sun they were tracking the storm and believe from the photos they took that a funnel cloud did in fact touch down.
“We intercepted it just south of Hamiota and there was already a large funnel cloud on the storm,” Mandi Grayston wrote in an email.
“I was editing my photos last night and noticed some of them show the funnel touching down. I have submitted a report to Environment Canada and provided them with as much information as possible. It will be their final decision on it. Touchdown was likely fairly brief.”
If someone sees what they think is a funnel cloud or tornado, Hoffman encourages them to contact Environment Canada to provide a description and photos of the event.
To do so, Manitoba residents can either call 1-800-66-STORM (667-8676) or email mbstore@ec.gc.ca.
As of Thursday afternoon, Brandon’s seven-day forecast from Environment Canada was not predicting any thunderstorms within the next week but listed a 40 per cent chance of showers on Saturday.
» cslark@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @ColinSlark