‘It’s just pure adrenaline’: storm chasers kept busy across the prairies

CTV’s Daniel Halmarson takes a closer look at tornado season in Canada, and if extreme weather will hit Manitoba this summer.

A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is moving through western Manitoba.

In the past two weeks, twisters have touched down in Saskatchewan, North Dakota, and most recently, Minnesota.

“When you’re watching that tornado reach from the sky and touch the ground, it’s just pure adrenaline,” said Ethan Caners, a physical geography student and storm chaser.

“It’s everything you can think of when you see a cloud touch your ground.”

Caners was on the ground when a tornado ripped through Cass County, North Dakota last Friday, just west of Fargo.

“We got to document the entire genesis of the storm itself and all the tornado genesis that occurred, and we kept on following it as it transitioned from south to north to west to east.”

Three people were killed and at least 10 homes were destroyed in the storm’s destructive path.

Another twister struck Hartland, Minnesota on Wednesday and eight confirmed tornadoes touched down in Saskatchewan on June 19.

“We’ve sort of been in this pattern where all the ingredients are in place for such types of storms,” said John Hanesiak, an atmospheric science professor at the University of Manitoba.

Tornadoes haven’t developed in Manitoba over the past couple weeks, though two weak ones were confirmed in the province back in May.

However, Hanesiak says it’s only a matter of time before we see more form this summer.

“Typically see anywhere between maybe ten to a dozen … that’s kind of an average year.”

That’s because Manitoba is on the northern tip of tornado alley, and catastrophic twisters like the F5 tornado that hit Elie, Man., in 2007 can develop under the right conditions.

“EF5s are pretty rare, even in the U.S., not even just in Canada, right, so they’re pretty uncommon, which is rather fortunate. Obviously, you don’t want to see too many of those nasty type storms,” said Hanesiak.

Both Hanesiak and Caners say if severe storms roll through and a tornado alert is issued, be vigilant.

“When you see a warning, come to your phone, listen to it. Most of them will tell you to take cover immediately, take shelter, just listen to them,” said Caners.

If you have a basement, that’s the best spot to seek shelter. If you don’t, stay away from windows, doors and exterior walls.

If you’re outdoors with no shelter available, lie flat in a low area with your arms shielding your head.