Saskatchewan: Thunderstorm Forecast for Tuesday, May 16, 2023

NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE WHICH WILL BE EASIER TO READ.

Isolated pop-up storms are possible in the southwestern portion of Saskatchewan during the afternoon and early evening on Tuesday. These storms should be pretty weak with small hail and a few lightning strikes being the main threats. However, the environment is favourable for the development of funnel clouds. In rare cases, these funnel clouds may touch down and become a landspout. We’ve highlighted the highest potential for landspouts with an ‘isolated’ severe risk on the map.

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.