Alberta: Thunderstorm Forecast for Wednesday, May 24, 2023

There is the risk of isolated thunderstorms in Southeastern Alberta along the Saskatchewan border on Wednesday during the afternoon. Some of these storms around Medicine Hat could reach severe levels with quarter-sized hail, 90km/h wind gusts and potentially even funnel clouds or a landspout before they track into Saskatchewan.

Landspout: A landspout is a type of tornado that forms under a weak thunderstorm. Unlike traditional tornadoes, which develop from supercell thunderstorms and are associated with a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone, landspouts form from non-supercell storms and do not have a mesocyclone. These tornadoes are generally weaker and shorter-lived than their supercell counterparts but can still pose a threat to property and life, with wind speeds occasionally reaching up to 160 km/h.