Severe weather is barreling its way through the region Friday morning. Environment Canada says a severe thunderstorm is currently happening over Illfracombe, a rural part of Huntsville, and that the storm is moving southeast at 40 kilometre per hour. The national weather centre says the storm could bring strong winds and quarter-sized hail. Other affected communities within Huntsville are Centurion, Vernon Shores, Norvern Shores, Ravenscliffe, Melissa and Arrowhead Provincial Park. Residents should be aware that power outages are likely. The national weather centre says severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Environment Canada originally issued a red tornado warning at 11:19 a.m. but shortly after at 11:43 a.m. forecasters downgraded it to a yellow severe thunderstorm warning. Forecasters said a severe thunderstorm that could produce a tornado was over Bear Lake for a brief stretch of time. “Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are expected to produce damaging hail, wind or rain,” the national weather centre says.
