Widespread Tornado and Large Hail Threat with Another Risk of Severe Thunderstorms in Alberta & Saskatchewan Saturday

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Following yesterday's widespread severe weather, in which multiple tornadoes were reported to have touched down in Central Saskatchewan, as well as one possibly touching down to the west of Edmonton, we're in for yet another day with the risk for strong severe thunderstorms.

For several days, weather models have been showing that the environment could be extremely unstable today, especially across much of Saskatchewan, which could result in a fairly significant severe weather outbreak. Working against this, however, is the likelihood that there could actually be too heat higher up in the atmosphere, which could create a strong capping inversion that would hinder thunderstorm development. This is expected to be the case for much of Southern Saskatchewan today, where there will be a more isolated severe risk. It's important to note that any storms that are able to develop in this region will probably be quite strong.

Shifting northward, the capping should be less of an issue in Central and Northern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Across this large swath of the Prairies, severe thunderstorms are expected to develop much more readily in a favourable environment.

Although there are already some thunderstorms this morning in Central and Northern Alberta, the storms that we are most concerned about are expected to beginning developing early this afternoon in Western Alberta, which will track mostly eastward through the afternoon.

As these storms cross into Saskatchewan early this evening, they could strengthen considerably as they move through the most ideal environment. These thunderstorms are expected to maintain their strength as they cross Saskatchewan during the evening and into the overnight hours. As they approach the provincial border and cross into Western Manitoba, the storms are expected to weaken and then dissipate in the early morning hours.

At their strongest, the severe thunderstorms today could easily produce large golf ball to tennis ball size hail, damaging wind gusts up to and possibly exceeding 100km/h, and heavy rain. There will be a widespread risk of tornadoes today in the area outlined in yellow and even in Southern Saskatchewan if storms are able to form there, but the most significant risk will be in the orange region. An area of particular concern today will be around North Battleford, Saskatoon, and Prince Alberta.

This is looking like it could be another long day with a heightened severe weather threat across the Prairies. Given today’s widespread tornado risk, please ensure that you have all of your devices charged and that you have more than one way to receive critical alerts. We expect to be livestreaming today’s storms so be sure to tune in!


Massive Tennis Ball Hail and Tornado Threat from Strong Severe Thunderstorms Across All Three Prairie Provinces Thursday

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Yesterday, two tornadoes have been confirmed to have touched near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, south of Lloydminster. So far, no damage has been reported from the first tornado that began southwest of Paradise Valley, Alberta. The same can not be said for the second tornado, which tracked through Dillberry Lake Provincial Park, where it damaged trees, flipped a trailer, and caused minor injuries.

Unfortunately, this area will once again be at risk for tornadoes today, as we are looking at two particular regions in the Prairies where there could be strong severe thunderstorms capable of producing very large hail and tornadoes. The first area of concern will be in Southwestern Manitoba and extending northward into the Parkland and Interlake Regions. The second area is further west, extending southeastward from Wainwright, through Kindersley, to the Moose Jaw and Regina area.

To start things off, we’ll take a look at the severe risk in Eastern Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. As discussed in yesterday’s forecast, last night’s storms did manage to track across Saskatchewan overnight and persist through to the daylight hours today. They weakened considerably after crossing the Manitoba border and have gradually dissipated this morning.

Despite the lingering storms, the same low and frontal boundary setup that triggered yesterday’s tornadoes is positioned over Southern Saskatchewan and it will continue tracking eastward today.

Future Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed for 12pm cst/1pm CDT on Thursday, courtesy of the national weather service.

Temperatures will climb into the mid-to-upper 20s and dewpoints into the low 20s across much of Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba today, meaning there will be plenty of moisture. The environment will also be quite unstable, with CAPE values possibly as high as 3000J/kg. Along with a decent amount of shear, all of the ingredients will be in place for strong severe thunderstorms to develop this afternoon as the low tracks through the region.

Thunderstorms could start to develop in the early afternoon in Southeastern Saskatchewan, along the warm and occluded fronts. However it’s looking more likely that storm initiation will occur on the other side of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border in the mid-afternoon.

Simulated reflectivity at 3pm CdT, courtesy of weatherbell.

Given the extensive north-south orientation of the warm and occluded fronts, it’s possible that there could be widespread severe thunderstorm development that extends northwards from the international border to north of Flin Flon. While there is this large severe risk, the strongest severe thunderstorms are expected to remain further south.

The storms in Southern Manitoba are expected to strengthen quickly once they develop, especially if they interact with any lingering outflow boundaries from this mornings thunderstorms. If this were to happen, we could see some fairly explosive development in the region. There could be a few supercell storms, but it’s mostly looking like the storms will be multicellular in nature.

As the front slowly continues to track eastward and crosses Manitoba through the afternoon and evening, so too will the storms. In fact, these slow moving, moisture-laden storms could dump a lot of rain over an area that has already been dealing with major flooding issues, so be prepared.

Other than exacerbating the flooding concerns, if things really ramp up this afternoon and evening, the strong severe thunderstorms could potentially produce some massive hail today, with estimates of hail as large as tennis balls being possible. Damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h are also likely with these strong storms, and there will also be a threat of tornadoes if we end up seeing some of that explosive development.

The severe weather threat could possibly move into Winnipeg and the Red River Valley in the evening, but most models are showing the storms tracking southeastward into the States. The possibility of storms in this region is still a bit questionable, so we’re forecasting a widespread risk to the east of the area of strongest storms.

Simulated reflectivity, with added storm motion, at 7pm CdT, courtesy of weatherbell.

While storms are impacting Southern Manitoba, there will also be the risk of some severe thunderstorms further west.

A new low has been forming over Southern Alberta and it could trigger thunderstorms to develop this afternoon, but it’s looking like a boom or bust situation in this region. There will be plenty of moisture and a decent amount of instability, but there could actually be too much shear for thunderstorms to survive.

If storms are able to develop today and they aren’t over-sheared, they will likely be supercells that could start up in Central Alberta and track southeastward across West Central and Southwestern Saskatchewan. Models that are showing thunderstorm development are suggesting that these could end up being long-lived storms again, which could continue into the overnight and early morning hours as they approach the Montana border.

total Precipitation as of 3pm MDT/CST shows possible tracks of long-lived thunderstorms, courtesy of weatherbell.

The greatest risk of strong severe thunderstorms in Alberta and Western Saskatchewan today will exist from Wainwright to Moose Jaw and if these strong storms do develop, it could be a similar situation as yesterday. Very large hail, that could be tennis ball size or larger, would once again be the main severe threat. Damaging wind gusts well in excess of 100km/h will also be possible and there will be the threat of tornadoes, too.

Beyond the two areas we’ve highlighted as having the strongest severe thunderstorms today, there will also be a widespread severe risk across much of the Southern Prairies as a result of a favourable environmental conditions.

Shortly after 10:30am local time, Environment Canada has issued a Yellow Severe Thunderstorm Watch for parts of Central and Southern Alberta. Similar Watches will likely be issued in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the coming hours.

As always, we will be monitoring today’s thunderstorm development very closely. We intend on live streaming today’s storms, as well as the risk in Southern Ontario, so please be sure to tune in and stay safe!


Severe Storm Risk Targets GTA and Southern Ontario Thursday With Damaging Winds Possible

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With the return of more seasonal temperatures across Southern Ontario, the past week has been fairly quiet on the storm front. That has certainly been a noticeable change compared to the nearly daily severe weather risks we were dealing with during the prolonged heat event that kicked off the month.

However, that quieter pattern is expected to come to an end on Thursday as a cold front sweeps across Southern Ontario during the afternoon, bringing back the threat for severe thunderstorms in some areas.

The highest risk for severe weather appears to be focused on Deep Southwestern Ontario, extending along the Lake Erie shoreline, through the Greater Toronto Area and along the Hwy 401 corridor into Kingston. This is where we have a widespread severe weather risk, with multiple severe storms possible through the afternoon.

Based on the latest data, a line of storms is likely to develop along the approaching cold front and move into an environment supportive of some of these storms becoming severe. The main threat appears to be damaging wind gusts, but large hail and localized flooding will also be possible with the strongest storms.

As for the tornado risk, it appears to be highest from around Lake Simcoe eastward into the Kingston area. However, this risk is still fairly questionable and will depend on how storms develop and interact with the local environment.


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The main timeframe for storm development appears to begin during the early afternoon, with storms likely stretching from Lake Simcoe through Kitchener, London and into the Sarnia area between 1 and 4 PM.

These storms are expected to slowly track south and east through the afternoon, potentially moving into the Golden Horseshoe, Peterborough and Kingston area by the mid to late afternoon.

Keep in mind, not everyone will see severe storms. This is not expected to be a solid wall of storms affecting every community. Instead, storms will likely be somewhat isolated to scattered, but the environment in place means that any storm that does develop could become severe.

The storm risk should quickly diminish after the dinner hour as daytime heating fades and the front moves through. However, this will depend on the exact timing of the front. If it arrives a little later than expected, the severe risk may continue into the early evening hours for some areas.

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Based on the environment, we have gone with a ‘widespread’ severe weather risk, mainly driven by the potential for damaging wind gusts. Nickel to quarter-size hail and an isolated tornado are also possible.

This risk zone includes Windsor, Chatham, Sarnia, London, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Kitchener, Guelph, Toronto, Newmarket, Peterborough, Belleville, Kingston and Brockville.

We also have an isolated severe risk for the rest of Southwestern Ontario, through Central Ontario and into the Ottawa Valley. This includes Ottawa, Cornwall, Renfrew, Bancroft, Muskoka, Orillia, Barrie, Midland, Collingwood, Orangeville, Hanover, Kincardine and Goderich.

Storms in this zone are more likely to remain non-severe, but we can’t rule out one or two isolated severe storms. This is especially true if the front is slower than expected, which could allow stronger storms to develop farther north and west before tracking into the main risk zone.

Threat of Tennis Ball Hail, Damaging Winds, and Tornadoes on Wednesday as Strong Severe Thunderstorms Take Aim at Parts of Alberta & Saskatchewan

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After a bit of a break yesterday, severe weather returns today to parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. There is a widespread risk of severe thunderstorms across large swaths of both provinces today, however there is a threat of particularly strong severe thunderstorms for parts of Eastern Alberta and Western Saskatchewan.

The environment will be quite unstable throughout the region today, with CAPE values expected to climb as high as 2500J/kg. Combined with plenty of moisture and a considerable amount of shear, conditions will be favourable for thunderstorm development.

Some storms have already begun this morning to the northwest of Lac la Biche, and the bulk of today’s storms are expected to initiate in the Alberta Foothills later this morning and into the early afternoon. The storms will develop along a warm front that’s associated with a low which will move into Northern Alberta from British Columbia. It’s expected that today’s thunderstorms will start off as small individual storms, but they should quickly grow and strengthen as the track eastward across Alberta and reach the Saskatchewan border by the late afternoon.

Hourly Precipitation at 6pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

The strongest storms of the day are expected to occur during the late afternoon and into the evening, impacting parts of Eastern Alberta approaching the Saskatchewan border and extending eastward as far as Saskatoon. The main risks from these storms will be up to tennis ball sized hail and very damaging wind gusts that could be upwards of 120km/h, however, this area will also have the threat of tornadoes.

As we progress later into the evening and overnight, the storms will continue to track east across Saskatchewan, but they are expected to have weakened slightly. The thunderstorms could end up persisting straight through the night and approach the Manitoba border around sunrise tomorrow.

Simulated reflectivity at 6Am CST, courtesy of weatherbell.

There is a bit of uncertainty associated with today’s thunderstorm risk for Southern Alberta. A few weather models are showing little to no thunderstorm activity in this area and this potential lack of development could be due to the presence of smoke from wildfires in British Columbia. Regardless, the environment in this region will still be primed for thunderstorm development, which is why we have opted to forecast a widespread risk for this region.

Environment Canada has already issued Yellow and Orange level Severe Thunderstorm Watches for much of Central and Southern Alberta and these will likely be extended into Saskatchewan in the coming hours. We will be monitoring today’s thunderstorm development very closely and we will possibly go live later on so be sure to stay tuned!


Widespread Strong Severe Thunderstorm Risk Across the Prairies Sunday with Tornado Threat in Southwestern Manitoba

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It’s another day with the possibility of severe weather across the Prairies. Today’s risk extends eastward from Southern Alberta through Central Saskatchewan and throughout most of Central and Southern Manitoba.

There are going to be two areas where we will be watching for thunderstorm development later today. The first being in Southern Alberta and the second in Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba.

Starting in Alberta, the combination of heat and moisture from the south, along with considerable instability, will create the ideal environment for severe thunderstorms to develop this afternoon. The storms are expected to be supercells or multicellular that would develop in the Southern Foothills.

As the storms track eastward beyond the Foothills, they should become severe and possibly long-tracked thunderstorms. Looking at weather models, it appears as though things will strengthen to the east of Calgary, but there will still be an isolated severe risk for the City and the crowds at the Stampede.

Simulated reflectivity at 6pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

The thunderstorms that develop in Southern Alberta this afternoon could very well maintain their strength and continue tracking eastward straight across Central Saskatchewan through the late evening and into the overnight hours. There is a bit of a question mark with this, with some models showing this possibility while others show nothing impacting Saskatchewan.

Regardless, the thunderstorms that do end up developing in this region could be quite strong and have the potential to create very large hail that could possibly be as big as tennis balls, as well as damaging wind gusts in excess of 100km/h.


The secondary area of severe threat for today will exist in Southeastern Saskatchewan and across much of Southern and Central Manitoba.

The development of storms in this region will be courtesy of a cold front from a low pressure system that will move into the region this afternoon. The environment in this area will already be primed with substantial instability (CAPE values upwards of 3000J/kg) and a significant amount of vertical shear so thunderstorms will likely be quite strong, especially in Southwestern Manitoba.

Thunderstorm development in this part of the Prairies could kick off later this afternoon/early evening in deep Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. These storms could then intensify quickly as they track east-northeastward across Southern Manitoba throughout the evening and overnight.

Simulated reflectivity at 9pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

As with to the west, the severe thunderstorms that impact Southeastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba could also be quite strong. The entire region could experience large hail and damaging wind gusts, but in Southwestern Manitoba, where the strongest storms will likely hit, there could be hail as large as tennis balls. There is also the risk of tornado development throughout the evening that extends from Southeastern Saskatchewan to east of Winnipeg and northward into the Parkland and Interlake Regions.

We will be monitoring today’s thunderstorm development very closely and be sure to tune in later when we go live!


Another Round of Damaging Storms Could Hit Southern Ontario Thursday With Tornado Risk Increasing

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After an active Canada Day that saw storms sweep through Southern Ontario, causing damage and power outages from widespread damaging wind gusts, Thursday may feel like déjà vu for some areas. For parts of the province, this could be the third severe weather risk of the week.

Fueling all of this active weather is the ongoing heat event, which has led to temperatures soaring into the mid to upper 30s across many locations. Thursday is expected to be similarly hot, creating more than enough instability for another round of severe weather.

While Wednesday’s risk was mainly focused on damaging wind gusts, Thursday could feature a more defined tornado risk, with one or two tornadoes possible. The focus of this tornado risk appears to be in Southwestern Ontario near the Lake Huron shoreline, along with parts of Eastern Ontario, including the Ottawa Valley.

The damaging wind gust threat also remains very present. Similar linear-like storms could sweep through a corridor from Lake Huron into the GTA, and then toward the Lake Simcoe, Peterborough and Kingston areas.

Up to Timbit-sized hail is also possible, especially across Eastern Ontario, along the Lake Huron shoreline and around the London area. In these regions, a more isolated storm mode could support a few supercell thunderstorms.

Once again, models are struggling to pinpoint exactly when and where storm development will happen. They tend to perform poorly in these types of dynamic setups, especially when storms are triggered by smaller-scale features such as lake breezes and outflow boundaries from other storms.

What we do know is where the strongest environment is located, along with a rough idea of where models are most likely to develop storms.

That begins during the afternoon, when we could see isolated cells develop from the Lake Simcoe area down toward Kingston. These storms could support a tornado risk, which is why this corridor is also highlighted on our map for tornado potential.

However, confidence is lower in this area. Not every model shows storm development, so this part of the forecast will depend heavily on whether the right triggers are in place.

Another zone of possible storm development can be found across the Ottawa Valley and Eastern Ontario during the evening. A strong shear environment could support rotation if storms are able to develop.

Similar to the afternoon Lake Simcoe risk, confidence is lower here because not all models show storm development. The threat will depend on whether storms can actually form and take advantage of the environment.

The Lake Huron storms may eventually merge into a larger complex and bring a potential late-night damaging wind gust risk through the GTA and Niagara region.

There is still some question about how long this complex would be able to maintain its strength, especially once we lose daytime heating. However, if it holds together, damaging wind gusts could once again become a concern.

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Overall, the forecast for Thursday looks quite similar to Wednesday. We have a “Strong” (Level 3/5) severe risk across a large area, but this time it also includes portions of Deep Southwestern Ontario, including the Sarnia and London areas, along with the Golden Horseshoe.

Other locations included in this risk zone are Goderich, Owen Sound, Kitchener, Hamilton, Guelph, Toronto, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia, Peterborough, Belleville and Kingston.

This risk is being driven by the potential for strong wind gusts within this corridor, with multiple linear storms possible. If these storms can organize, they could lead to widespread wind damage. There is also the risk for up to Timbit-sized hail and one or two tornadoes.

We have a “Widespread” (Level 2/5) severe risk for Windsor, Chatham and the Lake Erie shoreline, extending into the Niagara region. There is also another “Widespread “ risk zone through Muskoka, Algonquin Park, Bancroft and the Ottawa Valley.

These areas are outside the zone most likely to see the most widespread damaging wind gusts, so the primary threat here will be driven by up to Timbit-sized hail and the risk for one or two tornadoes.

Another major concern is flooding, especially in the Ottawa Valley. This region saw significant flooding on Wednesday after more than 100 mm of rain fell in some areas. Flooding could once again become a serious issue if storms linger over the same communities or repeatedly track over the Ottawa area.

For northern sections of Central Ontario into Northeastern Ontario, including North Bay, Sudbury and Elliot Lake, we have an “Isolated” (Level 1/5) severe risk. We are not expecting widespread severe weather in this area, but with so much energy in the atmosphere, we cannot rule out an isolated pop-up storm capable of becoming severe.

Strong Severe Storm Risk Threatens Canada Day Across Southern Ontario, Damaging Winds and Isolated Tornadoes Possible

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Hot and humid weather has arrived across Southern Ontario just in time for Canada Day, with temperatures soaring into the mid-to-upper 30s, with the humidex making it feel into the 40s. While many will be heading outside to celebrate, this intense heat is also creating an atmosphere that is primed for severe thunderstorms later today.

Unfortunately, this stormy weather could put a damper on Canada Day celebrations, particularly across portions of Southwestern, Central and Eastern Ontario.

We are tracking a conditional severe weather threat for Wednesday afternoon and evening, with the risk potentially continuing into the overnight hours. The hot, humid air will provide plenty of fuel for thunderstorm development. Wherever storms are able to form, they could rapidly become severe thanks to the extremely unstable atmosphere.

In addition to isolated storm development, there is also the potential for one or more organized linear complexes of thunderstorms to move through Southern Ontario. If these systems develop and hold together, they could produce widespread damaging wind gusts across a large portion of the province.

We continue to describe today's threat as conditional because forecast models are doing a poor job of determining exactly where storms will develop. We know the environment is more than capable of supporting severe thunderstorms, but storms first need to form in order to take advantage of the available instability.

Development may be triggered by lake breeze boundaries, leftover outflow boundaries from earlier storms, or other small-scale features that are notoriously difficult to predict ahead of time. As a result, not everyone will see a thunderstorm today, but those that do could experience very intense conditions.


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As of 1 PM, we're already watching a strong complex of thunderstorms developing over Northern Michigan that is tracking toward Lake Huron and eventually Southwestern Ontario by the mid to late afternoon. If this complex is able to maintain its strength as it crosses into Ontario, it could produce widespread damaging wind gusts from areas east of Lake Huron through the Lake Simcoe region and eventually into Eastern Ontario.

Additional thunderstorms may also develop later today across Quebec before sweeping into portions of Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley during the evening and early overnight hours.

Outside of these organized storm complexes, isolated thunderstorms may develop almost anywhere across Southern Ontario this afternoon and evening. If they are able to establish themselves before merging into larger clusters, a few discrete supercells could develop.

These storms would be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, hail up to the size of Timbits and an isolated tornado. While the tornado threat appears highest across Eastern Ontario, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out anywhere in Southern Ontario today.

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We have a 'Strong' (Level 3/5) severe weather risk for locations including Goderich, Kincardine, Owen Sound, Hanover, Collingwood, Midland, Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Peterborough, Tweed, Bancroft, Smiths Falls, Renfrew, Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall. This higher risk is primarily driven by the potential for widespread damaging wind gusts this afternoon and evening, although large hail and an isolated tornado are also possible.

Surrounding areas, including Grand Bend, Woodstock, Kitchener, Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Newmarket, Oshawa and Kingston, are under a 'Widespread' (Level 2/5) severe weather risk. These locations could also experience damaging wind gusts if storm complexes hold together, although the tornado risk is somewhat lower compared to Central and Eastern Ontario.

We also have an 'Isolated' (Level 1/5) severe weather risk across the rest of Deep Southwestern Ontario, along with the Niagara region. While storm coverage is expected to remain limited here, any storm that does develop could quickly become severe given the highly unstable environment.

Farther north, we have gone with an 'Widespread' (Level 2/5) to 'Isolated' (Level 1/5) severe weather risk across northern portions of Central Ontario, including North Bay and Sudbury. Storms that develop in this region could strengthen before tracking south and eastward into Quebec and Eastern Ontario.

The severe weather threat should gradually diminish around midnight. However, thunderstorms may continue overnight as the atmosphere will remain exceptionally unstable despite the loss of daytime heating. If a mature storm complex is able to move through overnight, isolated severe weather will remain possible, with damaging wind gusts posing the primary threat.

Multiple Tornadoes and Tennis Ball Sized Hail Possible Monday Across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario

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After a destructive severe weather outbreak that brought violent tornadoes to Western Manitoba on Sunday, the risk shifts eastward into Winnipeg, Eastern Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario on Monday.

Based on the latest forecast data, today's storms could bring a similarly dangerous setup with the potential for significant severe weather, including multiple tornadoes, huge hail up to the size of tennis balls, destructive wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h, and areas of flash flooding.

The greatest concern is across areas just southeast of Winnipeg where we have issued a 'significant' severe weather risk. This includes Winkler, Steinbach, Kenora, Dryden, Atikokan and Fort Frances.

Storms that develop in this corridor will have the potential to rapidly become powerful supercells capable of producing all severe weather hazards. The tornado threat is expected to be highest in this zone where atmospheric conditions appear most favourable for rotating thunderstorms.

A 'strong' severe weather risk extends across the rest of South-central and Eastern Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Carman, Killarney, Selkirk, Gimli, Ashern, Arborg, Peguis, Pine Falls, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.

While damaging wind gusts and large hail will likely be the primary hazards across much of this area, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, especially across South-central Manitoba and the Interlake region where conditions may still support discrete rotating storms before they begin to organize into larger clusters.

Farther west, there is a widespread to isolated severe weather risk across Western Manitoba, including Brandon, Virden, Dauphin, Roblin and Swan River. Flooding is expected to be the biggest concern in this region as slow-moving thunderstorms could repeatedly track over the same communities.

Rainfall totals could exceed 100 mm in localized areas, leading to flash flooding. An isolated tornado also cannot be ruled out around the Brandon area during the afternoon should any storms remain isolated long enough to become organized.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Today's severe weather threat is expected to begin during the afternoon with slow-moving thunderstorms developing across Western Manitoba, particularly near the Brandon area.

These storms will move very little, increasing the risk of training thunderstorms where multiple storms repeatedly pass over the same locations.

This could quickly lead to localized flooding, but these storms may also be capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and even an isolated tornado.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

The primary severe weather outbreak is expected to unfold later in the afternoon and into the early evening as isolated thunderstorms develop along the international border from Winkler eastward through Southeastern Manitoba and into Fort Frances in Northwestern Ontario.

The atmosphere during this period is expected to be highly supportive of supercell development. Any storm that can remain isolated will have the potential to produce tornadoes, very large hail and destructive wind gusts.

Hail could reach the size of tennis balls in the strongest storms, which would be capable of causing significant damage to vehicles, roofs and crops.

Winnipeg sits near the northwestern edge of the greatest severe weather threat. While current guidance keeps the most dangerous storms just southeast of the city, even a small shift farther west could bring a much higher tornado risk into the Winnipeg area.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

The tornado threat should gradually decrease after sunset as daytime heating fades and the atmosphere becomes less favourable for discrete supercells. However, that will not mark the end of the severe weather threat.

As the evening progresses, many of the isolated storms are expected to merge into one or more organized lines of thunderstorms. While the tornado risk will lessen, these storm lines could produce widespread destructive wind gusts capable of causing tree damage, power outages and structural damage across parts of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

These storms could reach the Winnipeg and Thunder Bay regions around midnight with another round of severe weather. Although the primary concern overnight will shift toward damaging straight-line winds, an isolated nocturnal tornado cannot be completely ruled out.

The severe weather threat should come to an end across Manitoba after midnight as the storm complex moves eastward. However, portions of Northwestern Ontario may continue to see strong to severe thunderstorms into Tuesday morning before the system gradually weakens and exits the region.


Canada Day Heatwave Set to Grip Southern Ontario With Near 40°C Heat and Severe Storm Risk

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As we approach the end of June, the weather is set to heat up in a big way across Southern Ontario with the arrival of a prolonged heatwave that is expected to bring dangerously hot temperatures by Canada Day. Based on the latest forecast data, there appears to be very little relief from the heat in the short term, with above seasonal temperatures potentially lasting through much of the week before easing closer to normal by next weekend.

The heat begins to build on Monday and Tuesday with daytime highs approaching the 30°C mark for the first time during this event. Ironically, these may end up being the “coolest” days of the week as temperatures continue to climb, with some areas potentially reaching the mid 30s by Canada Day, even before humidity is taken into account.

To make matters worse, there will be very little relief overnight. Starting Tuesday night, temperatures are expected to remain in the low to mid 20s across much of Southern Ontario. These unusually warm nights prevent homes and buildings from cooling down and give people little opportunity to recover from the daytime heat, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially after several consecutive days of extreme temperatures.

In addition to the heat, this warming trend is also expected to create an increasingly unstable atmosphere that will provide plenty of fuel for thunderstorms throughout the week. That doesn't necessarily mean storms will develop every day. Thunderstorms also require a trigger to get started, even when the atmosphere is primed.

However, the ingredients are expected to be in place for multiple rounds of thunderstorms over the coming week, including the potential for severe weather beginning as early as Tuesday.

ESTIMATED TEMPERATURE (°C) - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

This heat event officially begins on Monday with daytime temperatures generally ranging from 27 to 30°C across Southern Ontario.

Keep in mind that communities located along the shorelines of the Great Lakes may remain a few degrees cooler where lake breezes develop. These breezes act like a natural air conditioner by pulling cooler air off the water and pushing it inland, offering some temporary relief for locations directly downwind.

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Tuesday brings another step upward with daytime highs expected to exceed 30°C across nearly all of Southern Ontario.

The hottest temperatures are expected across Southwestern Ontario, along with the Golden Horseshoe, where the urban environment creates what is known as the ‘urban heat island’ effect. Cities contain large amounts of concrete, asphalt and buildings that absorb heat from the sun throughout the day. Unlike forests or grassy areas, these surfaces release that stored heat slowly overnight, causing cities to remain noticeably warmer than surrounding rural areas, especially during prolonged heat events.

Temperatures in these areas are currently forecast to reach between 33 and 36°C. Once humidity is factored in, it could feel more like the upper 30s or even low 40s.

ESTIMATED CAPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Along with the increasing temperatures on Tuesday will come a significant surge in thunderstorm energy. Forecast models are showing CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values ranging from 2,000 to more than 4,000 J/kg across much of Southern Ontario. For perspective, CAPE values between 1,000 and 2,000 J/kg are already considered more than sufficient to support strong to severe thunderstorms.

While CAPE is only one ingredient needed for severe weather, it gives us an indication of how much energy is available for developing thunderstorms. The higher the CAPE, the greater the potential for storms to grow rapidly and become intense if they are able to form.

What CAPE cannot do on its own is actually produce thunderstorms. A triggering mechanism is still needed to force warm, humid air upward. Common triggers include an approaching cold front, a warm front, lake breeze boundaries, outflow boundaries from earlier storms or even the heating of the ground during the afternoon. Without one of these lifting mechanisms, the atmosphere can remain loaded with energy while little or no storm development occurs.

Since this energy is expected to remain in place for much of the week, there is a high likelihood that at least a few rounds of thunderstorms will develop. Some of these storms could certainly become severe. At this point, Wednesday and Thursday appear to offer the greatest chance for thunderstorm development, although we're still several days away and the exact timing, location and severity will become clearer as we get closer. This will need to be closely watched as it could put a damper on Canada Day celebrations.

ESTIMATED TEMPERATURE (°C) - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

While temperatures will cool somewhat overnight, the overnight relief will be minimal, particularly across Southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area.

Current projections suggest temperatures on Wednesday morning may struggle to fall below 25°C in these areas before sunrise, with most other parts of Southern Ontario remaining above 20°C.

These warm overnight temperatures are particularly concerning because they greatly increase the health risks associated with prolonged heat. Normally, cooler nights allow the body to recover from daytime heat stress and help homes naturally cool down.

When temperatures stay elevated all night, that recovery becomes much more difficult, especially for seniors, young children, those with chronic health conditions and anyone without access to air conditioning, such as the unhoused. Several consecutive nights of poor overnight cooling can significantly increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Extreme heat can affect anyone, not just vulnerable groups, so it's important to take precautions throughout this event.

Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty, and try to avoid alcohol or excessive caffeine, which can contribute to dehydration.

Limit strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, typically from late morning through the early evening, and wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing whenever possible.

If you have access to air conditioning, spend time indoors where it's cool. If not, consider visiting a shopping mall, library or community cooling centre for a few hours. Also remember to check in on family members, friends and neighbours, especially older adults, young children and those with underlying health conditions.

Never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a vehicle can climb to dangerous levels extremely quickly!

Finally, learn to recognize the warning signs of heat-related illness. Symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, headache, heavy sweating or confusion should never be ignored. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention!

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As we head into Canada Day, it is shaping up to be an exceptionally hot day with temperatures potentially reaching between 36 and 38°C across Deep Southwestern Ontario and portions of the Greater Toronto Area.

Once again, temperatures could be noticeably cooler near the Great Lakes, where lake breezes develop. With southwesterly winds currently expected, the greatest cooling influence will likely be found along the northeastern shorelines of the lakes.

Elsewhere across Southern Ontario, temperatures are expected to range from 33 to 36°C across much of Southwestern Ontario, around Lake Simcoe and into Eastern Ontario. Central Ontario, along with the higher elevations of the Dundalk Highlands, should remain slightly cooler with highs between 30 and 33°C.

ESTIMATED FEELS LIKE (°C) - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Humidity is also expected to continue increasing through Wednesday and Thursday, making it feel even hotter. Factoring in the humidex, it could feel well into the low to mid-40s across much of Southern Ontario. The highest humidex values are expected across Deep Southwestern Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe, although Eastern Ontario could also see "feels like" temperatures approaching 40°C.

A similar setup is expected on Thursday with many areas once again climbing into the mid-30s. Temperatures may ease slightly on Friday before a more noticeable cooldown arrives next weekend, bringing conditions back closer to seasonal values.

While the exact timing of that relief may still shift over the coming days, confidence is increasing that Southern Ontario is about to experience its most significant and prolonged heat event of the year so far. Residents should be prepared for several consecutive days of dangerous heat and stay up to date with the latest forecasts as the week progresses.

Tornado Risk for Regina Area as Significant Severe Storm Risk Target Saskatchewan & Manitoba Saturday

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After a brief reprieve from active weather across Saskatchewan and Western Manitoba, the threat of severe thunderstorms returns on Saturday. This round of storms could bring a potentially significant severe weather risk to portions of Southeastern Saskatchewan, especially around Weyburn and Estevan.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop near the International Border around the dinner hour. Any storms that form could quickly become supercells capable of producing all severe weather hazards, including tornadoes, golf ball-sized hail and destructive wind gusts up to 120 km/h.

There is also a strong severe weather risk extending northward toward Assiniboia, Moose Jaw and Regina. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out in these areas as well, although confidence in storm development is lower compared to locations closer to the border.

Further south, additional thunderstorms are expected to develop across Montana and North Dakota. As the evening progresses, these storms are forecast to merge into a large complex that will race northeast toward Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba.

The earlier isolated supercells over Southeastern Saskatchewan are expected to be absorbed into this larger storm complex as it crosses the border. As this happens, the primary threat will shift from large hail and tornadoes to widespread damaging wind gusts as the storms organize into a fast-moving line during the mid and late evening hours.

This line is expected to sweep northeast from Regina toward the Manitoba border. There is still some uncertainty regarding how well it will maintain its strength after sunset, as the loss of daytime heating will reduce available instability. However, we expect at least an isolated to widespread severe weather risk to continue past midnight as the storms approach the Yorkton and Brandon corridor.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Based on the latest data, isolated thunderstorms are most likely to develop between 5 and 7 PM CST near the International Border. These storms could impact the Weyburn and Estevan areas as they rapidly intensify into supercells capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.

The environment will be particularly favourable for tornadic development during the first few hours of these storms' lifespan. The greatest tornado risk appears to be closest to the border, although this threat could extend northwest toward Moose Jaw and Regina if storms are able to develop there during the late afternoon and early evening.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

As the mature line of storms over Montana and North Dakota advances into Saskatchewan, the earlier isolated storms are expected to merge into the line, forming a bowing segment stretching from Regina to the Manitoba border.

Although the tornado threat will decrease once the storms become linear, a brief QLCS spin-up tornado cannot be ruled out, particularly near any bookend vortices that develop within the line. The primary hazard, however, will become widespread damaging wind gusts, with localized gusts over 100 km/h possible. The hail threat will also diminish by this stage, although quarter to toonie-sized hail may still accompany the strongest storms.

The line will continue sweeping across Southeastern Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba during the overnight hours. While isolated damaging wind gusts will remain possible within the strongest portions of the line, there is still uncertainty regarding how well the storms will maintain their intensity after midnight.


Southern Ontario Faces Severe Storm and Tornado Risk Thursday Ahead of Possible Canada Day Heatwave

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While the latter half of June has been relatively quiet across Southern Ontario when it comes to severe weather, thanks to cooler temperatures dominating the region, that pattern is about to change in a big way. As we head into the final days of June, much warmer and increasingly humid air will begin pushing into the province, bringing with it a rapidly increasing risk for thunderstorms.

The first significant opportunity arrives on Thursday, when portions of Southwestern Ontario could see a widespread severe thunderstorm risk. An isolated severe threat may also extend farther east into parts of the Golden Horseshoe and Central Ontario.

If thunderstorms are able to develop during the afternoon and early evening, they will move into a very favourable environment capable of supporting supercell thunderstorms. These storms could produce all modes of severe weather, including toonie-sized hail or larger, damaging wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h, torrential rainfall and even a few isolated tornadoes.

The most favourable environment currently appears to be across areas including Sarnia, Chatham, Grand Bend, Goderich and London. However, isolated thunderstorms could also develop as far north as the Bruce Peninsula, east toward Lake Simcoe, and south into portions of the Greater Toronto Area. While the tornado threat decreases farther away from Lake Huron, it cannot be completely ruled out as far east as Kitchener, Hamilton and portions of the southern Georgian Bay shoreline.


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We'll be providing comprehensive live coverage of any storms that develop on Thursday afternoon on our YouTube channel. Our team will be tracking storms in real time with live radar analysis, warnings, storm reports and chaser coverage, so if severe weather threatens your area, be sure to join us live to help stay informed.


SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Thursday's forecast does come with one important complication. Morning showers and non-severe thunderstorms are expected to move through Southwestern Ontario before spreading into Central and Eastern Ontario during the day.

As we've seen many times before, morning convection can make or break an afternoon severe weather event. If clouds and showers linger too long, they can prevent the atmosphere from recovering enough to support stronger storms later in the day.

On the other hand, if skies clear by around the noon hour, as many of the latest models suggest, there should be several hours available for temperatures and instability to quickly rebound.

Significant Tornado Parameter - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

By the mid-afternoon, the atmosphere is expected to become increasingly supportive of severe thunderstorms, with the highest risk developing between roughly 2 PM and 6 PM. The strongest combination of instability and wind shear currently appears to be centred near the Lake Huron shoreline, extending into Sarnia and Chatham.

The latest Significant Tornado Parameter (STP) data also highlights an enhanced corridor stretching from the Michigan border across Lake Huron into Southwestern Ontario. Should storms form within this corridor, they could rapidly intensify into rotating supercells capable of producing very large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

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There remains some disagreement among the forecast models regarding exactly where storms will first develop.

Some models initiates storms as early as 3 PM across Michigan before they quickly cross into Deep Southwestern Ontario. This scenario would place communities such as Sarnia, Grand Bend, Goderich and London at the greatest risk.

Other models delay development until later in the afternoon or early evening, with storms forming closer to the Hanover to Grand Bend corridor before tracking southeast toward London, Kitchener and possibly Hamilton. Regardless of which solution verifies, the greatest tornado potential continues to favour areas along and just inland from the southeastern Lake Huron shoreline.

Additional isolated thunderstorms may also develop around Lake Simcoe and into the Greater Toronto Area during the late afternoon and early evening. While the environment in these areas appears less favourable for widespread severe weather, a few stronger storms cannot be ruled out. The primary threats would be hail up to quarter size along with isolated damaging wind gusts.

As the sun sets Thursday evening, the severe weather threat should gradually diminish as daytime heating is lost. However, scattered non-severe showers and thunderstorms may continue well into the overnight hours, particularly across Central and Eastern Ontario.

TEMP ANOMALY - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Looking beyond Thursday, the severe weather threat briefly settles down. Friday may bring a very isolated thunderstorm risk across Eastern Ontario, particularly near the Ottawa Valley, while much of the weekend currently appears relatively quiet from a severe weather perspective.

The bigger story heading into next week will likely be the return of significant heat.

Temperatures are expected to steadily climb through the weekend, with many areas approaching or exceeding 30°C by Monday. Current medium-range guidance suggests the heat could continue to intensify into the middle of next week, potentially peaking around Canada Day.

Some forecast models are indicating temperatures running between 5 and 10°C above seasonal averages, with localized anomalies approaching 15°C in parts of Ontario on Canada Day. If those projections verify, daytime highs could reach the low to mid 30s across portions of both Southern and Northern Ontario.

When combined with increasing humidity, it may feel close to 40°C in many communities.

This surge of heat and humidity will also provide plenty of fuel for additional thunderstorm development. While it is still too early to determine exactly which days will carry the greatest severe weather risk, there are increasing signs that we could be entering a much more active pattern over the next one to two weeks. Exactly when storms develop will depend on the arrival of cold fronts and other triggering mechanisms, something that will become much clearer once higher resolution models come into range.

We'll continue monitoring both Thursday's severe weather potential and the possible prolonged heat event expected next week. Stay tuned for forecast updates throughout the coming days as confidence continues to increase.

Widespread Severe Thunderstorms Possible Across Southern Alberta and into Southwestern Saskatchewan Today with Slight Risk of a Tornado

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Severe thunderstorms are going to be likely across Southern Alberta and into parts of Central Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan today. A cold front associated with the low pressure system that’s responsible for the heavy rainfall in Central Alberta will be the trigger for thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid-20s, but dewpoints are expected to be fairly low, barely reaching mid-teens for most of Southern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan. This lack of moisture could hamper thunderstorm development, however some moisture from the north could make its way into the region later today, which would make up for the lower dewpoints.

Simulated reflectivity at 3pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

Thunderstorms are expected to develop early this afternoon in the Foothills as individual cells. These storms will likely be severe for most of the region, but there is a more isolated severe risk closer to the low pressure center, in the Edmonton area and westward.

As the storms progress eastward through the afternoon and evening, they are expected to eventually merge into a line. This transition to a linear storm mode will bring a more widespread severe risk across Southeastern Alberta and eventually into Southwestern Saskatchewan later in the evening (around 8-10pm).

The severe risk does not extend too far eastward into Saskatchewan because the storms will weaken later in the evening. This will lead to a more isolated threat into the Swift Current area by around midnight before it’s expected that the storms become non-severe for the rest of the overnight period.

Simulated reflectivity at 9pm MDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

Across most of Southern Alberta and stretching into parts of Central Alberta, including Red Deer, and Southwestern Saskatchewan is where there is the greatest risk for widespread severe thunderstorms today. In this region, the main severe weather threats will be strong wind gusts above 100km/h and large hail that could be as big as ping pong balls. There is also a small risk of a tornado today, but that will be very conditional on there being enough moisture moving into this area from the north ahead of the thunderstorm development.


Another Soggy Weekend for Central Alberta as we Welcome Summer with a Widespread 25-100mm of Rain

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It’s been a very wet few weeks, which started off during the last weekend of May when over 75mm of rain fell across a significant swath of Central and Southern Alberta. This rainy trend will continue this weekend, as we welcome the first day of summer on Sunday, and by Monday morning, some areas could once again receive up to 100mm of rain.

Rain will begin to fall in parts of West Central Alberta Friday evening and overnight as a low pressure system from British Columbia starts to move into the province. Through Saturday morning, the rain will gradually spread east and should reach the Saskatchewan border during the early afternoon.

Once the rain sets up over Central Alberta and into parts of Northern Alberta, the system is expected to stall and bring continuous rain through to Sunday evening. At that point, the system will start to break down and the rain will taper off overnight Sunday and through Monday morning. It’s likely that a bit of rain will spread into Southeastern Alberta Monday morning before it completely dissipates by the afternoon.

The RDPS model showing precipitation type and intensity at 5AM MDT on Sunday, courtesy of WeatherBell.

By the time the rain comes to an end Monday afternoon, more than 25mm of rain is expected to have fallen over much of Central Alberta and into Northern Alberta. Areas to the east of Edson will likely receive 50-75mm, while the City of Edmonton and eastward could see upwards of 100mm of rain.

The heaviest rain will fall at an average of 3-5mm/hr throughout the weekend, but there could possibly be pockets of intense rain from embedded thunderstorms, which could drive the rainfall totals beyond 100mm locally.

Considering how much rain we’ve already seen this month that has kept the ground fairly saturated, this much additional rainfall will very likely lead to localized flooding, especially near bodies of water. Please be sure to avoid any moving water for the next few days and if you come across a flooded roadway, do not attempt to drive through. Turn around, don’t drown.


Powerful June Storm System Could Bring Damaging Winds and Isolated Tornadoes to Southern Ontario Overnight

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An unusually strong and deepening low pressure system for mid-June is set to track through the Great Lakes region overnight Wednesday and into Thursday. This powerful system will bring the potential for severe weather to a large portion of Southern Ontario, with the greatest threat occurring late tonight and into Thursday morning.

The same system is expected to produce a significant severe weather outbreak across portions of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan this afternoon and evening. In those areas, forecasters are highlighting the risk of violent tornadoes, destructive wind gusts and large hail as a potent combination of instability and wind shear develops ahead of the approaching low pressure system.

As this line of storms pushes eastward into Michigan tonight, it is expected to gradually weaken before reaching Ontario. However, weakening does not necessarily mean the severe threat will disappear.

Even in a decaying state, this line of storms could still bring impactful weather to portions of Southwestern Ontario, especially areas closest to the international border and along the Lake Huron shoreline.

Based on the latest forecast data, the primary threat appears to be damaging wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h. In localized areas, stronger wind gusts could occur if isolated downbursts develop within the line of storms. These stronger pockets of wind have the potential to cause tree damage, power outages and scattered property damage.

While the tornado threat will be considerably lower than what is expected across parts of the United States, it cannot be completely ruled out.

The atmosphere over Deep Southwestern Ontario will remain supportive of some rotation early in the night, particularly while the line of storms is still relatively organized. Any tornado risk would likely be brief and localized in nature, but the strong dynamics associated with this system mean it is something we will be watching closely.

Another factor adding complexity to this forecast is the strength of the low pressure system itself.

In addition to thunderstorm-related winds, very strong winds will be present just above the surface overnight. Normally, a temperature inversion would act as a lid and prevent those stronger winds from mixing down to ground level. Current indications suggest that inversion should remain in place for much of the night.

However, if portions of that stronger wind are able to reach the surface, isolated non-thunderstorm wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h would be possible. This risk appears highest near the shorelines of Lake Huron and Lake Erie where local effects can help enhance wind gusts.


We’ll be closely monitoring this severe weather threat throughout the evening and overnight hours.

If conditions warrant, we’ll be going live on our YouTube channel with real-time storm tracking, radar analysis, warning updates and coverage of any severe weather that develops across Southern Ontario.

Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel HERE and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any live coverage. Whether it’s damaging winds, tornado warnings or rapidly changing conditions, we’ll be there to keep you informed every step of the way.


Heavy rainfall will also accompany this system. Many areas will receive beneficial rainfall, but localized torrential downpours could lead to rainfall amounts exceeding 50 mm in a relatively short period of time. If storms repeatedly move over the same area, flash flooding could develop, especially in urban locations and areas with poor drainage.

The highest severe weather risk tonight stretches across Deep Southwestern Ontario and portions of the Lake Huron shoreline. This includes Windsor, Leamington, Chatham, Sarnia, Grand Bend, Goderich and Kincardine.

In these areas, storms could begin arriving as early as 8 to 9 PM and continue through the overnight hours. Damaging wind gusts remain the primary concern, although heavy rain and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

As the line progresses eastward, it is expected to reach the London, Woodstock, Kitchener, Guelph, Orangeville and Hanover areas around or shortly after midnight. There remains some uncertainty regarding exactly how much strength the storms will retain by this point. However, the potential still exists for several pockets of damaging winds to survive farther inland.

The tornado threat should be lower compared to areas farther west, but strong winds and localized flooding will continue to be concerns as the line moves through.

By the time the storms reach Central Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe during the overnight hours, the severe threat should be decreasing further. That said, this remains a powerful weather system and some stronger portions of the line could still produce isolated wind gusts approaching 90 km/h.

As a result, we continue to highlight an isolated severe weather risk for Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Peterborough and Bancroft.

Attention will then shift to Eastern Ontario during the early morning hours on Thursday. Unlike areas farther west, there are indications that the atmosphere may begin to recover somewhat as the main line approaches. There is also the potential for additional isolated thunderstorms to develop behind or ahead of the main line shortly after sunrise.

This could allow for a secondary severe weather threat across portions of Eastern Ontario, particularly near the international border and into the Ottawa Valley. This broader morning severe weather risk includes Kingston, Brockville, Smiths Falls, Cornwall, Ottawa and Picton.

Should additional storms develop within this environment, all severe weather hazards would be possible including damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall, hail and even an isolated tornado.

Forecast confidence in the tornado threat remains lower due to the early morning timing and questions surrounding how much instability can develop. However, the environment bears watching closely given the strength of the overall weather system.

The severe weather threat is expected to gradually come to an end from west to east through Thursday morning, with most areas seeing the risk diminish by early afternoon.

Even after thunderstorms exit the region, conditions will remain quite blustery throughout the day. Strong non-thunderstorm wind gusts may continue across much of Southern Ontario as the powerful low pressure system pulls away from the Great Lakes.

Strong Winds and Timbit Sized Hail Possible with Widespread Risk of Severe Thunderstorms in Southern Alberta & Saskatchewan Tuesday

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It’s looking like it’ll be an active day for some parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan today. A low pressure system from Southern British Columbia will track southeastward through Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan today, which will trigger the development of thunderstorms across the region.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the low to mid-20s, with dewpoints possibly into the mid-teens, across Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, which should help fuel thunderstorm development. There will be a modest amount of CAPE in the region, with weather models showing upwards of 1000J/kg for some areas. While this is not a great deal of instability, the combination of shear and a mechanism for lift will be enough for scattered thunderstorms to develop across the region.

Simulated reflectivity at 2pm, courtesy of weatherbell.

Non-severe thunderstorms have already developed this morning in Central Alberta. As the low continues tracking southeast into Southern Alberta, so too will the thunderstorms and starting in the early afternoon, it’s likely that the storms that develop will become severe.

The bulk of the thunderstorm activity is expected to make its way into Southern Saskatchewan later in the afternoon, around 3-5pm. Behind the initial cluster of storms in this area, additional storms are expected to develop to the west, in Southern Alberta. Most of these storms will likely be severe, but there is a more isolated severe risk that will extend eastward across much of the rest of Southern Saskatchewan.

The thunderstorms will gradually weaken through the evening as they continue tracking into Montana and most of the storms should cross the international border by midnight. However, there is a chance that some storms could linger in Southern Saskatchewan into the early morning hours.

Simulated reflectivity at 6pm, courtesy of weatherbell.

An area that stretches from northwest of Calgary southeastward into Southwestern Saskatchewan, shown in yellow on our forecast map, is where there is the greatest risk for widespread severe thunderstorms today. Across this region, the main threat from thunderstorms today will be strong wind gusts in excess of 100km/h, however there is also the threat that these storms could produce large hail that could be as large as Timbits and maybe even as large as golf balls. Given that at least one tornado is confirmed to have touched down in Northern Alberta from this system last night, the possibility of additional tornadoes today can not be ruled out.


Potential Derecho Combined with Threat of Baseball Hail and Tornadoes Marks the Return of Extreme Risk in Saskatchewan and Manitoba Tuesday

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It was a very busy weekend for severe weather in Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. From the two day span, there have been countless reports of massive hail, wind damage, flooding from across the region, as well as a few tornado reports that are awaiting confirmation. Unfortunately, the calmer conditions we saw on Monday will come to an end when strong severe thunderstorms once again impact Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba today.

Through the day, a low pressure system will strengthen as it moves from Southeastern Montana into Western North Dakota and then into Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba by later this afternoon. A warm front will extend eastward from the low pressure center, which will help draw lots of heat and moisture northward into Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Future Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed for 12pm cst/1pm CDT on Tuesday, courtesy of the national weather service.

Temperatures are slated to climb into upper 20s and low 30s across the region this afternoon and with dewpoints expected to be in the upper teens, there will be plenty of fuel for thunderstorm development. Weather models are showing upwards of 4000J/kg of CAPE in some areas, which will support the development of supercell thunderstorms. Veering winds will also create a significant amount of shear to maintain large supercell thunderstorms and support tornado potential.

Through the morning, there is a chance that some thunderstorms could develop in Southeastern Saskatchewan which would track northeastward into Southwestern Manitoba during the early afternoon. These storms could possibly become severe and produce some small hail and strong winds, but they won’t be as strong as the storms expected later in the day.

Simulated reflectivity at 3pm CST/4pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

Severe thunderstorms could start to fire up in the early afternoon, particularly in Southwestern and West Central Saskatchewan. However, we will gradually see more organized development of stronger thunderstorms occur across Southern Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba as we get later in the afternoon, around 3-6pm, depending on the time zone.

Similar to what we saw on the weekend, the thunderstorms are expected to grow exponentially into large supercells which will track mostly northeastward through the evening and overnight.

Simulated reflectivity at 7pm CST/8pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

Even more thunderstorms are expected develop during the evening and storms will also move into the region from south of the border. As with the situation on both Saturday and Sunday, there is the likelihood that these additional storms will end up merging into a large line of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms will continue to be quite strong for a few hours after they transition into a linear storm mode.

As the hours tick on and it gets closer to midnight, it’s likely that the storms will begin to gradually weaken. This is also around the time that the severe line will make its way into the Winnipeg area so it’s possible that the city could avoid the greatest severe hazards of the day.

Simulated reflectivity at 11pm CST/12am CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

The risk of strong severe thunderstorms extends across much of Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba today. Across much of the region, there will be the possibility for storms to produce ping pong ball hail, damaging wind gusts up to 100km/h, and heavy rains that will likely result in localized flooding.

However, the greatest threat of severe weather will once again be in Southeastern Saskatchewan, into Southwestern Manitoba and extending eastward into the Interlake Region and approaching the Red River Valley. This region, highlighted in red and purple on our forecast map, could see some exceptionally strong thunderstorms this evening that will originate from Montana.

The main threat from the thunderstorms that move through this region is expected be widespread destructive wind gusts upwards of 130km/h and this could very likely end up being considered a derecho. On top of this, the storms will also have torrential downpours that could further exacerbate the flooding issues being faced by some communities and they may produce hail that could be as large as baseballs, which could be extremely dangerous if it’s being driven by winds up to 130km/h. As if this wasn’t enough, there is also a tornado risk across this region.

The major hindrance to tornado development over the weekend was that a lack of moisture ended up keeping the cloud bases high, until they were able to lower later in the evening on Sunday. This could end up being the case today, but this still has the potential to be a life-threatening situation.

Even without the tornado risk, today’s severe weather threat is very serious. If you live in the area that we’ve highlighted in either red or purple on our map, PLEASE be prepared for the likelihood that threatening weather could impact your area today. Make sure you have your phones charged and you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place in the event that you need to take shelter.


Threat of Large Hail, Damaging Winds and Tornadoes Returns to Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Tuesday

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It was a very busy weekend for severe weather in Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. From the two day span, there have been countless reports of massive hail, wind damage, flooding from across the region, as well as a few tornado reports that are awaiting confirmation. Unfortunately, Monday’s calmer conditions won’t last because strong severe thunderstorms are once again expected to impact Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Tuesday.

Early Tuesday, a low pressure system will move into Southeastern Montana and from there, it will strengthen as it tracks into Western North Dakota through the morning hours and into the afternoon. A warm front will extend eastward from the low pressure center, which will help draw lots of heat and moisture northward into Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Future Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed for 12pm cst/1pm CDT on Tuesday, courtesy of the national weather service.

Temperatures are slated to climb into upper 20s and low 30s across the region in the afternoon and with dewpoints expected to be in the upper teens, there will be plenty of fuel for thunderstorm development. Some models are showing upwards of 4000J/kg of CAPE in some areas, which will support the development of supercell thunderstorms.

Veering winds will also create a significant amount of shear to maintain large supercell thunderstorms and support tornado potential. Overall, this is looking like a fairly similar environmental setup to Sunday.

During the late morning, there is a chance that some thunderstorms could develop in Southeastern Saskatchewan which would track northeastward into Southwestern Manitoba into the early afternoon hours. These storms will likely become severe and produce some small hail and strong winds, but they won’t be as strong as the storms expected later in the day. However, if these storms manage to persist across the Interlake Region, they could end up re-intensifying through the late afternoon and evening.

Simulated reflectivity at 4pm CST/5pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

The strong severe thunderstorms could start to fire up in the early afternoon, particularly in Southwestern and West Central Saskatchewan. However, we will gradually see more organized development occur across Southern Saskatchewan and into Southwestern Manitoba as we get later in the afternoon, around 3-6pm, depending on the time zone.

Similar to what we saw on the weekend, the thunderstorms are expected to grow exponentially into large supercells which will track mostly northeastward through the evening and overnight.

Simulated reflectivity at 8pm CST/9pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

More thunderstorms are expected develop during the evening and storms will also move into the region from south of the border. As with the situation on both Saturday and Sunday, there is the likelihood that these additional storms will end up merging into a large line of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms will continue to be quite strong for a few hours after they transition into a linear storm mode.

As the hours tick on and it gets closer to midnight, it’s likely that the storms will begin to gradually weaken. This is also around the time that the severe line will make its way into the Winnipeg area so it’s possible that the city could avoid the greatest severe hazards of the day.

Simulated reflectivity at 11pm CST/12am CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

The risk of strong severe thunderstorms on Tuesday extends across much of Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Throughout this region, the severe thunderstorms could end up producing hail that’s larger than golf balls, widespread damaging wind gusts up to 130km/h, and torrential downpours that could exacerbate the flooding issues some communities are already dealing with.

There is also the potential for tornadoes to form from these thunderstorms. The major hindrance to tornado development over the weekend was that a lack of moisture ended up keeping the cloud bases high until they were able to lower later in the evening on Sunday. This could end up being the case on Tuesday, given the similar environmental setup, but the risk is certainly still in place.

Please keep in mind that this is a preliminary forecast and could differ from our final forecast as more data comes in overnight and tomorrow morning.


Widespread Tornado Threat and Softball-Sized Hail Possible with Extreme Thunderstorm Risk on Sunday as Severe Weather Outbreak Enters its Second Day

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After a busy day yesterday, that saw severe thunderstorms dropping massive baseball-sized hail over parts of Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba, we have the chance to do it all again today. It’s likely that today could be an even greater severe risk day than yesterday, with an extreme risk posed by the possibility of gigantic hail and multiple tornadoes. However, there has been a little bit of uncertainty surrounding how thunderstorms may end up developing this afternoon and evening.

Like yesterday, today’s severe thunderstorm threat will be triggered by a cold front that is currently oriented on a north-south axis and it located just west of the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border. This is a bit further west than originally anticipated when we issued our preliminary forecast on Friday, due in part to the front becoming stationary for a period of time yesterday. As a result, the severe risk today will cover more of Southeastern Saskatchewan and won’t extend as far east across Southern Manitoba.

To the east of the cold front, temperatures will once again climb into the low 30s this afternoon and it’s expected to be much more humid today, with dew points approaching the 20°C mark. The lack of moisture yesterday kept the cloud bases high, which greatly reduced the tornado risk, but it doesn’t look like that will be the case today.

The heat and humidity will lead to high levels of instability and upwards of 3000J/kg of CAPE to fuel thunderstorm development again today. Veering winds will also create a significant amount of shear to maintain large supercell thunderstorms.

Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed as of 6am cst this morning, courtesy of the national weather service.

As we’ve mentioned in this forecast already, and in our forecast from yesterday, there was uncertainty with today’s severe thunderstorm risk. There have been some mostly non-severe thunderstorms that have tracked through Southern Manitoba already this morning and it is possible these could hinder additional development later today.

The storms have weakened over the past couple of hours and the thought was that if they manage to clear early enough, that will allow for there to be ample surface heating needed for the additional explosive development later. However, if the storms stuck around into the afternoon, the severe thunderstorm risk would be greatly reduced. With the clearing of these morning storms already occurring, it seems likely the severe threat will not be diminished.

The significant severe thunderstorms could develop in the late afternoon and into the early evening, around 4-6pm in Southeastern Saskatchewan and extending northeastward into Southern and Central Manitoba. These storms could once again explode into massive and dangerous supercell thunderstorms that would track roughly northeastward through the evening.

Simulated reflectivity at 4pm CST/5pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

The area highlighted on our map in red, that covers a large portion of Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba, will be at a very high risk for dangerous severe thunderstorms. The area highlighted in purple, however, is where the strongest environment is expected to be and where there is an extreme risk for incredibly dangerous and life-threatening thunderstorms.

Throughout this region, the severe thunderstorms could end up producing absolutely massive, and maybe record-breaking, softball-sized hail, damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h, and very heavy rainfall that could lead to localized flooding. If we end up seeing the moisture that we were lacking yesterday, and the storm bases are lower, it is entirely possible that we could be looking at a tornado outbreak.

Simulated reflectivity at 8pm CST/9pm CDT, courtesy of weatherbell.

As we progress through the evening, more thunderstorms are expected develop and storms will also move into the region from south of the border. Once again, there is the likelihood that these additional storms will end up merging into a large line of storms which could impact a wide area into the overnight hours.

By the time we see a more linear storm mode, it’s likely that the storms will have weakened from their greatest strength, but they are still expected to be very strong and capable of producing very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and torrential rain.

The tornado threat should also decrease as we get later in the evening and into the overnight hours, but with how strong these thunderstorms could be today, there will still be a slight risk until the storms move into Northern Manitoba during the early morning.

Today’s severe weather threat is very serious. If you live in the area that we’ve highlighted in either red or purple on our map, PLEASE be prepared for the possibility of threatening weather to impact your area today. Make sure you have your phones charged and you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place in the event that you need to take shelter.

Once again, we will absolutely be live-streaming later so please join us while we monitor and track today’s severe weather. We hope everyone is able to stay safe today!


Tennis Ball-Sized Hail and Multiple Tornadoes Possible as Severe Thunderstorm Outbreak Targets Southeastern Saskatchewan on Saturday

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Over the last several days, we’ve been closely watching the possibility of an intense multi-day setup for this weekend that would impact Southeastern Saskatchewan today and shift into Southwestern Manitoba tomorrow. There has been a lot of chatter online about this severe weather risk and combined with several high-profile storm chasers in the area from the US, it’s easy to say that we’re not looking at your average thunderstorm activity.

Today’s severe thunderstorm threat will be courtesy of a warm and cold front that is poised over Southeastern Saskatchewan and Southwestern Manitoba. The warm sector between the two fronts will see temperatures climb into the upper 20s and low 30s this afternoon, with high humidity.

This will lead to high levels of instability and CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) for thunderstorm development. Add in veering winds, changing direction with height, which will create a great amount of shear, and you have the recipe for an outbreak of significantly strong severe thunderstorms.

Surface weather map with the positions of highs, lows, and fronts displayed as of 6am cst this morning, courtesy of the national weather service.

There have already been some scattered thunderstorms this morning which will continue through the afternoon across much of Southern Saskatchewan. These storms are expected to stay non-severe for the most part, but there is an isolated severe risk.

The thunderstorms that will be the focus for today aren’t expected to develop until this evening, starting around 5-6pm, to the east of Regina. Weather models are showing that these storms will likely quickly explode into large and dangerous supercell thunderstorms as they track roughly east-northeastward.

Simulated reflectivity at 6pm CST, courtesy of weatherbell.

The area highlighted on our map in red that covers a large portion of Southwestern Saskatchewan and into parts of the Parkland Region in Manitoba will be at the greatest risk for the strongest of these severe thunderstorms.

In this region, it’s likely that the storms could produce massive hail as large as tennis balls and possibly even larger, damaging wind gusts up to or exceeding 100km/h, and heavy downpours that could result in localized flooding. There is also a considerable threat that multiple tornadoes could touch down in this region; with the stretch from Weyburn to Yorkton appearing to be of particular concern.

As we progress through the evening, we will see additional thunderstorm development occur, which are expected to merge into a line of storms. This will bring a more widespread threat of the significant and strong storms across the rest of Southeastern Saskatchewan and into Manitoba.

Simulated reflectivity at 8pm CST, courtesy of weatherbell.

The severe weather threat will diminish gradually as the hours tick on in the evening and overnight. The tornado risk is also expected to decrease from its highest point by the mid-evening, but the storms could still be strong enough for the risk to remain through the evening. By midnight, there could still be a widespread risk of some severe storms, but this will quickly turn into a more isolated risk and scattered non-severe thunderstorms through the morning.

Looking ahead to tomorrow afternoon, we’re looking at another day of possibly strong severe thunderstorms, with the risk pushing further east across Southern Manitoba. What ends up happening tomorrow will really depend on how things unfold today. There’s the possibility that tomorrow could have even stronger storms than what is expected this afternoon, but this will be heavily contingent on how long any overnight storms manage to persist into tomorrow.

If the storms clear during the morning, that will allow for there to be ample surface heating for the development of another significant severe thunderstorm outbreak. However, if the storms continue into the afternoon, the severe thunderstorm risk will be greatly reduced.

We will have more details later today about how tomorrow could shape up. In the meantime, we will be watching today’s development very closely and we will be streaming later to track the severe thunderstorms live. Be sure to tune in!


Saskatchewan & Manitoba: Strong Severe Thunderstorm Risk Saturday and Sunday

A multi-day severe thunderstorm risk is shaping up across parts of the Prairies this weekend, with the focus beginning in Saskatchewan on Saturday before shifting east into Manitoba and parts of far southeastern Saskatchewan on Sunday.

This is still a preliminary forecast and may differ from our final forecast, but there is enough concern at this point that residents across the risk zones should be paying close attention to the forecast through the weekend.


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Saturday: Saskatchewan & Southwestern Manitoba

An isolated but strong severe thunderstorm risk will be in place across much of southern and central Saskatchewan from Saturday morning into Saturday night. Storms may be scattered at first, but any stronger cells that develop could produce large hail, strong wind gusts, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours.

The main concern develops later in the day, especially across southeastern Saskatchewan. By the late afternoon and evening, conditions may become more significant, with a higher-end severe threat possible around areas such as Regina, Fort Qu’Appelle, Yorkton, Melville, Moosomin, Weyburn, Estevan, Carlyle, and surrounding communities.

The primary hazards include very large hail, damaging winds, frequent lightning, torrential downpours, isolated flooding, and a tornado risk. This does not mean every community in the risk zone will see severe weather, but any storm that can fully develop may become severe or even strong severe in a hurry.

Additional thunderstorms may also move north from south of the border later Saturday evening and overnight, which could continue the severe risk into the nighttime hours across parts of southern and southeastern Saskatchewan. Please make sure you have a way to receive alerts before going to bed, especially if storms are still developing nearby or to the south.


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Sunday: Manitoba and Deep Southeastern Saskatchewan

By Sunday, the focus shifts farther east, with the strongest severe thunderstorm risk expected across southern and central Manitoba. The current risk area includes communities such as Brandon, Virden, Killarney, Boissevain, Neepawa, Dauphin, Portage la Prairie, Carman, Gimli, Selkirk, and surrounding areas.

Winnipeg and nearby communities are also included in the broader severe thunderstorm risk, although the highest risk may be somewhat west and northwest of the city based on the current outlook.

A strong severe risk is also possible across parts of far southeastern Saskatchewan, especially closer to the Manitoba border. This may include areas such as Moosomin, Carlyle, Estevan, Carnduff, and nearby communities, depending on how storms evolve through the day.

The strongest Sunday storms could bring very large hail, damaging wind gusts, torrential rainfall, frequent lightning, and a tornado risk. As with Saturday, the exact placement and timing of the highest risk may still change as newer data becomes available.

The bottom line: Saturday is the main day to watch across southern and southeastern Saskatchewan, while Sunday’s main concern shifts into Manitoba, with far southeastern Saskatchewan still needing to keep a close eye on the forecast.

Please stay weather-aware this weekend, review your severe weather plan, and be ready to take shelter quickly if watches or warnings are issued for your area.