Videos from Canada show large tornado that caused injuries, damage spinning across landscape in Alberta
Didsbury is less than an hour’s drive north of Calgary and is located in Canada’s tornado alley. According to the Canadian government’s Public Safety division, the country sees more tornadoes than any other country except for the U.S.
Video shows large tornado moving through central Canada
A large tornado touched down in Alberta, Canada, on Saturday and the country’s national weather service issued several alerts warning of the life-threatening situation. (Video: Allan O'Brien)
DIDSBURY, Alberta – A supercell thunderstorm moved through central Canada on Saturday afternoon, producing at least one large tornado that destroyed buildings, caused injured and killed livestock.
Environment and Climate Change Canada, the country’s national weather agency, issued emergency alerts for the storm that it said was producing a tornado, damaging winds, large hail and intense rainfall.
Watch: Time-lapse video shows destructive tornado sweeping across Canadian landscape
A dramatic time-lapse video showed a powerful thunderstorm and large tornado in central Alberta on Saturday.
Photos and videos taken from near the twister showed a large wedge formation that ripped up debris and dirt along its route.
One of those videos was a dramatic time-lapse showing the powerful storm spinning across the Canadian landscape in the distance.
"This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation," meteorologists said. "Tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing tornadoes."
A supercell thunderstorm moved through central Canada on Saturday afternoon producing at least one large tornado and causing damage along its route.
(Allan O’Brien / FOX Weather)
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Allan O’Brien had just finished up a round of golf when he spotted the tornado off in the distance.
The Alberta resident safely recorded a video of the monstrous twister and said it was a sight he’d never seen before.
The FOX Weather app also tracked the cell, which resembled a storm that is commonly seen in America’s heartland.
FOX Weather 3D radar tracked a severe storm north of Calgary, Alberta, on Saturday.
(FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said radar depicted a well-formed "hook echo," which is usually indicative of a strong tornado.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it was aware of the emergency situation in Alberta and had reports of injuries and damage, but it didn't yet know how extensive they were.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged residents to stay safe.
"To those who were injured by the tornado near Didsbury, Alberta, and to those whose homes have been damaged: Canadians are here for you, and we are keeping you in our thoughts," he said on Twitter.
According to deputy mayor of Carstairs Dr. Dean Allan, at least 14 homes were damaged by the tornado and five of those were completely destroyed. He said a woman was trapped in her basement while he home was destroyed above her, and she received minor injuries. Livestock in the area was also killed, Allan added.
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Tornadoes not uncommon in Canada
Watch: Powerful tornado carves path of destruction in Canada
A large tornado touched down in Alberta, Canada on Saturday and destroyed several buildings along its path. Videos from the area show the tornado spinning across the landscape and dropping large hail.
According to the Canadian government’s Public Safety division, the country sees more tornadoes than any other country except for the U.S.
Most are reported to occur during the summer in Ontario and the southern prairies.
O’Brien said he’s lived in the region for decades, but it has only been during the last few years that he’s noticed an uptick in weather activity.
"We really only started getting this kind of active weather in the last five years," he said. "There was a tornado in Pine Lake, Alberta, when I was in high school, but the last five years have seen an increase in tornado activity."
Canada's tornado history.
(Western University / FOX Weather)