A tornado warning was issued for the Fairview region in northwestern Alberta Friday night, where reports of damage began to filter in late in the evening.
Kyle Fougere, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, told Global News the weather agency had received reports from the Hines Creek area of ping pong-sized hail, possible heavy street flooding, uprooted trees and damage to roofs.
The weather agency couldn’t confirm if a tornado touched down, saying that kind of damage could have been caused by a twister or straight-ling winds, but it will be investigating.
ATCO Electric said severe weather was causing power outages in the Fairview area and surrounding areas, including Hines Creek.
Fougere said the storm passed over the village of Hines Creek around 9 p.m., before moving on and reaching Fairview around 9:40 p.m.
As of 11:15 p.m., the significant thunderstorm was continuing to move southeast, was still showing rotation and had potential to cause damage, he said. The tornado warning ended around midnight.
Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall from the storm were possible, the national weather agency said in its earlier warning.
“This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches,” Environment Canada said.
“If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately.”
If you spot a tornado, you should go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet.
Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris, the warning said.
Fairview is about 530 kilometres northwest of Edmonton in the Peace River region.
Tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing tornadoes.
The warning came as the Big Valley Jamboree in central Alberta had to put a pause on events Friday night because of a severe thunderstorm.
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