Tornado watches issued for parts of northwest Alberta

An image shows an apparent funnel cloud in the distance, near the intersection of Hwy 43 and Hwy 2 in Grande Prairie Friday, July 5, 2013. Courtesy: T. Nelson and A. Knoot

Environment Canada issued a number of weather advisories Friday, for certain parts of north-central Alberta.

Just before 12:30 p.m., Environment Canada issued tornado watches for Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Valleyview, Peace River, Fairview, High Prairie, Manning and Slave Lake.

Later Friday afternoon, a tornado watch was added for Wabasca, Peerless Lake, Gift Lake and Cadotte Lake.

According to officials, conditions in those areas were favourable for the development of funnel clouds, or weak tornadoes.

Despite the warning, Environment Canada said there was not much to worry about, as the funnel clouds were not expected to touch down for long – and if they did, they would only affect a very small area before dissipating.

At 7 p.m. Friday, the watches were still in effect in northern Alberta.