Time To Expand Radar Coverage? Are we missing tornadoes? [Commentary]

Congratulations to Canadian Prairie Storm Chasers Facebook Group now at 395 members! The growth of this group is great testament to the importance and public interest in the weather here on the Canadian prairies. I would like to see what we can do to help expand Environment Canada's radar coverage. Especially in July, tons of potentially tornadic storms go completely missed by forecasters and spotters in the northeastern areas of Saskatchewan, not to mention northern Manitoba as well, due to lack of radar sites in those areas.

Once again, today we have a tornado warning from a photo report along the edge of the current radar range. With no radar in the area, our only line of defence in satellite images and maybe a cage full of deprived gerbils. Are we really going to continue to use these poor gerbils to forecast storms in the north or is there some way to open Steven Harpers squeaky wallet and expand the radar coverage stations?

If you would like to join the discussion, post your storm observations or simply see the footage as it comes in from some great people and very talented photographers and videographers, please feel free to join here:

Canadian Prairie Storm Chasers Facebook Group

Thanks,
Jared Mysko

"This group is for storm chasers , spotters , weather enthusiasts , or anyone that is concerned about the weather in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Alberta. Tornado warnings, severe thunderstorms, or just wacky weather. Thanks and enjoy the weather!"

 

Facebook Group Moderated and Created by Ken Kun

Originally Developed by Jared Mysko on this blog and Yahoo! Groups (established 2003)

Mostly Calm And Sunny Today, Slight Risk Of Pulse Storms [Risk Map]

Today is expected to be a fairly calm and sunny day across the prairies with some brief pop up storms that may reach severe levels but nothing major. This pattern continues until the next outbreak beginning around Canada Day July 1st.

Today's Risk Map

Storm System Developing

A very strong storm system is forecast to develop overnight along the southern borders in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba this evening. Storms will not likely move anywhere north of the Trans Canada Highway but will develop from Lethbridge to Cypress Hills this evening and from Estevan to Brandon tomorrow evening. All points in between may see storms occurring but not at maximum intensity due to time of day (late night/morning).

Rainbow, Supermoon, Sunset (12 Photos)

This Evenings Outlook Map

Nice Day In Regina (2 Photos)

A couple photos from a nice day in Regina

Calgary Flooding - Ariel Footage From Global News Helicopter [MUST SEE]

Terrible flooding in southern Alberta today. These waters are now heading towards Medicine Hat tonight and into Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan next. The city of Saskatoon is also in the path of this one in 500 year flood. Nobody has seen a flood like this before in Alberta so it is impossible to predict how bad it will get once it hits the dams in Lake Diefenbaker, the worlds largest man made lake. It is still raining in Calgary so there is really no end in sight. A total catastrophe and what will likely turn out to be the most costly disaster in Canadian history.

Today's Outlook - Manitoba

Here is the map, too tired to comment, must go to my real job lol more updates and footage from yesterday later this afternoon.

SUPER STORM DAY - Updated with new HD Timelapse Clip

Tornado warnings in southern Alberta, dangerous supercells stretching across southern Saskatchewan, wildly rotating wall cloud over the city of Regina... and this day continues.. tons of footage coming in on the feeds on the right hand side of this page. As the sun sets this evening, storms are just getting bigger and badder. Much more later on... stay tuned and stay safe!!!

from earlier today: 

2pm Update: Pulse Storms Over Regina - Tornado Risk Dropping

As earlier predicted, storm cells have emerged over the city of Regina as of 1pm feeding from the nocturnal supercell which has since started to lose strength. These are pulse storms and only have infrequent lightning and brief downpours of rain. Much like yesterday, this system will gain strength over the afternoon and become very dangerous into the evening. The chance of tornadoes is low however the storms will become very widepspread across the southern parts of Saskatchewan. If storms back build as far as Alberta, there is a chance there of a tornado but very minisquelle. Most of the action today will be concentrated from the original cell and become stationary, shooting off back builders and heavy rain producers. This situation is being monitored very closely. Please pay attention to any warnings by Environment Canada and there will be an update here on Canadian Prairie Storms blog by or before 6pm.

Stay Safe!

Very Dangerous Storm System Now Hitting Southern Saskatchewan

A nocturnal supercell has held together through the night in south west Saskatchewan and is sweeping across the province at this time. Take precautions now if you are heading into work by closing open windows and gathering any loose items in your yard that may become projectiles. ETA for City of Regina is about 1pm. These storms will not die off in this environment, they will reorganize and turn very ugly especially along extreme areas of south central Saskatchewan. Early this afternoon this supercell will begin to shoot off tornadic cells to the south west of the feeder cell. BE ADVISED THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SYSTEM.

PLEASE: STAY SAFE!

Tornado Risk Today: East Central Alberta

Conditions have increased the threat of very severe weather today, especially in east central Alberta where a risk of strong tornadoes exists. Storms will generally be larger, more powerful than yesterday due to the increase in temperatures and moisture. Storm motion will be very slow once again this evening as cells will be near stationary as the system creeps slightly east from the action last night. Tomorrow the shift will be much greater as it moves into parts of Saskatchewan. A full fledged moderate risk could be issued along the Saskatchewan/Montana border tomorrow as conditions gain even more energy. The main cliff hanger will be Wednesday evening as temperatures drop with the passing storms in southern Saskatchewan but then increases dramatically again Friday night in southern Manitoba. In fact, there is no foreseeable end to this pattern so storm season on the Canadian Prairies is now fully under way and will continue full strength until the end of the current cycle beginning of July.

3 Day Outbreak

This evening major storms have begun in southern Alberta and will continue to crawl across the prairies over the next 3 days. Southern Alberta tonight, Alberta and western Saskatchewan on Tuesday and most of southern Saskatchewan will see serious severe weather on Wednesday. Forecast models suggest this could be a significant event on Wednesday especially as temperatures rise and the system moves towards the wet zones of Saskatchewan. Many grid roads and most farm fields are now flooded in areas of central and north central Saskatchewan. The heat in the south west will mix with these conditions and likely fire up some very big storms this week.

Severe Weather Outlook For Tonight

Severe thunderstorms will track north and east this evening and overnight with nocturnal storms lasting until morning where they will begin further east into Manitoba. These are supercell thunderstorms so please take all warnings from Environment Canada very seriously. There is not likely to be major damage caused but localised flooding and large hail, strong but brief tornadoes can not be ruled out. STAY SAFE!

Supercells Tonight In South West Saskatchewan #skstorm

After many excited reports of heavy rain in central Alberta that even resulted in tornado warnings being issued, some very real storms are starting to make their way as forecast into south west Saskatchewan. With echo tops of over 40k feet compared with the 25k foot storms earlier today around Edmonton, there is a very serious risk of damaging winds of up to 100km/hr and hail of golf ball size or 1 inch. Two supercells, one currently over Leader, Saskatchewan and the other much bigger complex of supercells is just south of the US border in Montana about to enter extreme south west areas of Saskatchewan. People need to take immediate safety precautions in the areas warned by Environment Canada and STAY SAFE!

Severe Weather Today In Alberta - 11am Risk Map

Severe weather is expected this afternoon in areas of Alberta and south west Saskatchewan. The largest most powerful storms will be in the southern sector producing damaging winds and large hail. Also of note today, the SPC in the USA has issued a very rare "High Risk" day around the city of Chicago.

Severe Weather Outlook This Week [NEW MAP]

The next three days will be very active with severe thunderstorms starting from southern Alberta into Montana with a much bigger system in the Ohio Valley towards southern Ontario. Already a Moderate Risk has been issued for tomorrow by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma covering areas of the states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.  A Slight Risk for southern Alberta, south west Saskatchewan and most of the state of Montana will mean serious storms with supercells and damaging tornadoes likely. Things will progress east each day with most activity staying close to the US border... likely very big storms, but nothing like we saw in Oklahoma a few weeks ago during those major historic outbreaks. The threat for danger increases though, especially Thursday in south west Saskatchewan with very hot winds aloft pushing in from Montana. To pin point areas of most danger here on the Canadian Prairies, Wednesday will be mostly between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat towards Cypress Hills, Thursday will be from Kindersley to Maple Creek and over to Assiniboia, Friday things will get going from Yorkton to Brandon in the east but still that is a few days away so conditions may shift either way. The way most storms have developed this spring suggests that south west Saskatchewan and south east Saskatchewan will get the most activity. The city of Regina has missed most every thunderstorm so far and that trend will continue until we get closer to July. So far this season, Saskatchewan has had two confirmed F-0 tornadoes and no damage reported as yet.

Here is the map:

Please watch for public watches and warnings via local media, Environment Canada or The Weather Network, and...

STAY SAFE!

Jared Mysko

Today's Severe Weather Forecast Map