Stay alert: Severe weather sparks back up in Alberta, Sask. Saturday
Prepare for strong severe thunderstorms across portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan through the second half of Saturday
Beneficial rain is on the way for parts of the Prairies struggling with drought this summer—but the precipitation will come at a cost.
Forecasters expect strong to severe thunderstorms to develop across Alberta and Saskatchewan through the day Saturday.
Keep an eye on the radar and listen for severe weather alerts in your area as you go about your day.
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Severe weather risk builds on Saturday
A low-pressure system building over the western Prairies will spark another day of active weather across the region.
An initial line of storms should fire up in the early afternoon, some of which could become severe as they reach southern Saskatchewan.
We’ll see this low continue to strengthen through the day. By the late afternoon and early evening, high instability and an incoming cold front will fuel a severe thunderstorm risk in southern Saskatchewan. This includes Assiniboia, Regina, and surrounding communities. An isolated severe storm is also possible in the Alberta foothills.
The greatest threat with any severe storms that develop on Saturday will be large hail, heavy rainfall, and strong wind gusts of 90+ km/h. Forecasters are also monitoring a risk of tornadoes in the evening.
As the centre of the low pressure develops over southern Alberta, the scattered thunderstorms will cluster together and form into a squall line that moves into far southern Saskatchewan during the evening and overnight hours.
Hail will pose the initial threat with these storms, with the risk transitioning over to strong wind gusts as the individual storms merge into a line.
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The system and its associated thunderstorms should bring some beneficial rain to regions that desperately need some precipitation this summer.
Folks from Calgary to Red Deer could see 20-30 mm of rain through Saturday, while widespread totals of 10-20 mm on tap for southern Saskatchewan.
Be sure to check back for your latest forecast across the Prairies.
Thumbnail photo submitted by André Belisle.