Funnel cloud advisories issued in southern Saskatchewan

The threat of funnel clouds hung over a good chunk of southern and central Saskatchewan just about all day Tuesday thanks to an advisory from Environment Canada.

The advisory said conditions would be favourable for the development of funnel clouds.

“These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado,” read the advisory.

“Landspout tornadoes do not usually cause significant damage but can still be dangerous. They can be strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances,” the advisory continued.

Speaking Tuesday morning, Shannon Moodie, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said funnel clouds are a bit different in the spring than the summer.

“They don’t often touch the ground but technically they just have the development of a funnel cloud, so it’s usually a certain situation that is quite common in the spring when it’s a little bit cooler,” she explained.

Environment Canada said it would issue watches and warnings if things got worse.

It said funnel clouds should be treated seriously and that people should be prepared to take shelter if one should develop nearby.