A tornado touched down in southern Saskatchewan on Saturday, July 11, 2026, bringing strong winds and causing property damage in rural areas, Environment Canada confirmed. The twister was reported near the town of Moose Jaw around 3:00 PM local time, with meteorologists tracking the storm cell as it moved eastward.
Storm Details and Response
The tornado, classified as an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, had estimated wind speeds of 135 km/h. It uprooted trees, damaged several outbuildings, and tore roofing off a handful of homes. No injuries were reported, and emergency crews were deployed to assess the damage and assist affected residents.
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the region about 20 minutes before the touchdown, giving residents time to seek shelter. The agency noted that the storm was part of a larger system bringing severe thunderstorms and heavy rain to parts of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Impact and Warnings
Local authorities urged residents to stay vigilant as additional storms were forecast for the evening. Power outages affected approximately 500 customers in the rural municipality of Moose Jaw No. 161, according to SaskPower. Crews worked to restore electricity by nightfall.
“We are grateful that no one was hurt, but we remind everyone to take severe weather warnings seriously,” said a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Emergency Management Agency. “This is a reminder that tornadoes can occur in our province, and preparedness is key.”
Weather Context
The tornado comes amid a heat wave in the region, with temperatures soaring above 30°C earlier in the week. The sudden shift to severe storms is typical of summer weather patterns in the Canadian Prairies. Environment Canada continues to monitor conditions and will provide updates as necessary.
