Environment Canada received reports of three tornadoes in the region last Thursday between 4 and 8 p.m.One was spotted 10 miles northwest of Bergen, another was reported at a campground 15 km west of Innisfail near Rge. Rd. 21 and Twp. Rd. 354, and a third was spotted about 15 km north of Olds on Rge. Rd. 20.The tornadoes that touched down didn't last long, with a lifespan ranging from seconds to a few minutes, meteorologist Dan Kulak said.To that end, Kulak suspects the west of Innisfail and north of Olds reports could have in fact been the same tornadoes.ìThis is the issue, we start getting multiple reports, and it may be the same ones,î he said.Until reported damage can be assessed, no Fujita scale intensity rating of the reported tornadoes can be provided, Kulak said.ìWe look at if a roof is gone, or trees, and can say it's indicative of a certain wind speed using the F-scale,î Kulak said.Another report noted tennis-ball-sized hail was pelting an area 10 km east of Sundre around 6 p.m.The supercells that generate severe weather phenomena like tornadoes require a significant amount of wind sheer, moisture, and instability, among other things, said Kulak, adding that Thursday's conditions were just right.ìThe moisture is like gasoline,î he said. ìYou have a trigger mechanism, which in our case could be a jet stream or a number of other factors, and then the wind sheer.îìAt the end of the day, it was a severe weather day in Alberta. One of the prime zones for severe weather in Alberta is that area ñ Sundre, Red Deer, Olds ñ and it lived up to its reputation.ìThis is really the beginning of severe weather season.îKulak said it's important for residents to have a plan in place for when storms of this nature hit the region. He suggests an inspection of one's property to ensure that old buildings and miscellaneous yard items won't become projectiles should a storm come along.ìGet rid of things that can fall down or become airborne,î Kulak said.ìYou have to be prepared, even if you've never had one for 10 years in your backyard.îSevere weather conditions can be reported to Environment Canada at 1-800-239-0484 or by e-mail at [email protected].
