A tornado touches down east of Picture Butte. Environment Canada has issued a tornado warning for several areas in southern Alberta, June 14, 2023. (Photo: Nancy Nuhn Conan)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Tornado warning issued for parts of southern Alberta

Jun 14, 2023 | 3:11 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Environment Canada has issued a tornado warning for many communities in southern Alberta.

At 2:38 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, meteorologists said they are tracking a severe thunderstorm that could potentially produce a tornado.

The warning states that damaging winds, large hail, and locally-intense rainfall are also possible.

Environment Canada said, “A severe thunderstorm that is producing a tornado is located 15 km north of Picture Butte, near Keho Lake. The tornado is moving to the northeast at 25 km/h.”

Some of the communities covered by the tornado warning include Lethbridge, Coaldale, Taber, Raymond, Milk River, Picture Butte, Nobleford, Vauxhall, Vulcan, Gleichen, Brooks, Enchant, Kinbrook Island Park and Strathmore.

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A map of the areas impacted by the tornado warning, June 14, 2023. (Photo: Alberta Emergency Alert)

“This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation,” reads a section of the warning. “Tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing tornadoes.”

More details on the alert on the Government of Alberta website.

Closer to home, Environment Canada has issued a thunderstorm watch for the Medicine Hat-Bow Island-Suffield area. The weather service says conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that could produce strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. Thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and will move northward through the day, weakening by late this evening, says Environment Canada.

A tornado touches down east of Picture Butte. Environment Canada has issued a tornado warning for several areas in southern Alberta, June 14, 2023. (Photo: Bud Bell)

A tornado touches down east of Picture Butte. Environment Canada has issued a tornado warning for several areas in southern Alberta, June 14, 2023. (Photo: Bud Bell)

–with files from CHAT News Today