A tornado warning ends as a strong storm moves through central Alberta

Tornado warnings for parts of central Alberta Thursday afternoon have now ended.

An emergency warning issued around 3:15 p.m. Thursday warned of severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes near the communities of Hanna and Richdale.

The storm was moving east at about 40 km/h, and just after 4 p.m., warnings issued for two possible tornadoes near Youngstown and Lake Togo. The warnings were lifted by 4:30 p.m

“It's been a very active day,” says Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor. “We haven't had any reports of anything on the ground, but we're seeing significant rotation on the radar.”

The following communities were added to the alerts on Thursday:

• Hanna
• Spondin
• Youngstown
• Sedalia
• Play
• Sibbald

Proctor said it's still early for tornadoes in Alberta, but the season has begun.

“It usually starts in May and June for us,” he says. “It usually peaks in July or early August.”

He said residents living in areas with active weather should always pay attention to watches and warnings to stay safe during severe storms.

“It's a matter of awareness, if there's a watch, look to the sky, and if there's a warning, take shelter,” he says.

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