Extreme weather hit parts of southern Saskatchewan this weekend, and a tornado has been confirmed.
At 4:11 pm CST on Sunday, Environment Canada confirmed a tornado is located about 10 kilometres outside of Kelso, Sask., moving northeast at 30 kilometres per hour.
Kelso, Wapella, Kenosee Lake and Whitewood are all under a red level tornado warning as of 4:12 pm CST.
Environment Canada issued a red level tornado warning near Alameda, Oxbow and Glen Ewen at 3:46 pm CST on Sunday.
According to the alert, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Alameda and moving northeast.
Environment Canada also issued a red level tornado warning northeast of Regina, around Serath, at 11:40 am CST on Sunday that was lifted at 11:55 am CST.
The severe thunderstorm that caused the warning is part of a line of severe storms around the province.
Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm warnings and rainfall warnings for communities throughout south and central Saskatchewan, including communities around Saskatoon, Yorkton and Regina.
Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Chris Stammer said a strong low pressure system pushed into the province Sunday, causing the bulk of the storms.
“We've seen a line of severe thunderstorms from Regina progress eastward towards the Manitoba border. We’ve seen a fair bit of rainfall as well as golf ball sized hail down near Estevan, and there have been a few tornado warnings issued,” Stammer said.
In areas experiencing thunderstorms, Environment Canada said up to 100 millimetres of rainfall is possible over Sunday and Monday.
In Regina, underpasses flooded due to heavy rainfall Sunday morning, and Regina Police said in a release that motorists should avoid the underpasses at Albert Street and Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street and Saskatchewan Drive, and Broad Street and Dewdney Avenue.
According to police Albert Street and Broad Street have been closed to northbound and southbound traffic at these locations due to flooding.
Stammer said the worst of the severe thunderstorms in the province will be over Sunday, but people can expect severe winds exceeding 90 kilometres per hour from Swift current down towards Estevan starting late Monday morning and continuing into the evening.
Laura Gillis is a Regina-based journalist. You can reach her at laura.gillis@cbc.ca.
