John Sirlin / Dreamstime

By Lisa Parent

Here’s what to know about funnel clouds during tornado season

Jun 27, 2024 | 4:51 PM

Environment Canada forecasted the potential for funnel cloud development in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and parts of Manitoba on Thursday morning.

Although it may sound frightening, warning preparedness meteorologist Alysa Pederson with Environment Canada said funnel clouds are not usually a concern.

“Typically when we see weather advisories like this with funnel clouds, it’s more of like an interest sake,” Pederson said.

Pederson said it’s important to remain vigilant, but funnel clouds are usually harmless unless accompanied by a severe thunderstorm and warm air.

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In 2022, Medicine Hat saw a tornado touch down in the midst of a severe storm, devastating several homes and bringing in winds close to 200 kilometres per hour.

Since 1980, there have been about 12 tornadoes within 50 kilometers of Medicine Hat.

“Alberta is kind of right in the middle of the Canadian tornado alley in a way,” Pederson said.

“Essentially our biggest area would be highway to between Edmonton to Calgary along the Foothills.”

Merrick Brown, the manager of emergency management with the City of Medicine Hat, said the past couple of years, funnel cloud warnings and tornado warnings have become more frequent.

Tornadoes and extreme wind are Brown’s number one concern during spring and summer due to the frequency they occur and the damage they produce.

“Tornadoes can reach upwards of 400 kilometers per hour and so severe destruction can occur with that. Not just power outages, but structural damage associated with that,” Brown said.

Pederson says for the most part funnel clouds Hatters may see on a day like today are harmless, but if you see a tornado touch down, that’s when to act.

If you see a tornado, get inside and go to the lowest floor of the building.

“So the damage associated with a tornado is not necessarily getting sucked up. It’s the it’s the shrapnel and all those other destructive things that that can occur because of that,” Brown said.

He added that having a 72-hour kit, stocked with necessary items when utilities are down, is an essential way to prepare for strong winds or a tornado.

Environment Canada will send a direct alert to residents phones if a tornado touches down near the city.