Storm in central Alberta packs high winds, hail and a tornado

Heavy storm clouds are seen near Pipestone, Alberta at about 6:34 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2017. Courtesy: Beth Allan

Throughout Thursday afternoon, residents of central Alberta were placed under a variety of storm watches and warnings, due to a heavy storm that prompted a tornado southwest of Edmonton.

By 3 p.m. Thursday, much of central and northern Alberta was placed under a variety of severe thunderstorm watches and warnings, including tornado watches.

Just after 5 p.m., a tornado warning was issued for Brazeau County near Drayton Valley and Breton – and at about 5:30 p.m., Environment Canada confirmed a tornado had been reported about 5 kilometres northwest of Breton.

That specific alert ended at about 6 p.m.

By 8:30 p.m. Thursday, many of the warnings had been downgraded to watches, and only one tornado watch remained in effect, that one for the Bonnyville – St. Paul – Cold Lake – Lac La Biche region.

Three severe thunderstorm warnings remained in place at that time:

Meanwhile, Environment Canada had eight severe thunderstorm watches in place for parts of the following regions:

CTV Edmonton meteorologist Josh Classen said Thursday afternoon that a watch indicates the possibility of severe weather hitting that area, while a warning means the weather system is imminent or occurring.