Funnel cloud near Taber. (Photo supplied by Braydon Morriseau and Prairie Storm Chasers)

By David Opinko

Environment Canada confirms tornado touched down near Barnwell Saturday

Jun 18, 2020 | 11:10 AM

BARNWELL, AB – Weather investigators have released their updated findings on this past weekend’s severe storms in Southern Alberta.

Meteorologist Alysa Pederson previously told LNN that they were looking into three possible tornados from Saturday, June 13 – one near Barnwell, one southeast of Calgary, and one near McNab.

Upon reviewing photos and videos of the supercell storm, it has now been confirmed that a twister touched ground approximately 10 km south of Barnwell around 7:58 pm.

It had estimated wind speeds of 90-130 km per hour, putting it in the smallest tornado category of EF-0.

At this time, there are not reports that this tornado caused any significant damages.

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As for the one near Calgary, Environment Canada says it never touched the ground, and is, therefore, merely a funnel cloud.

No details were provided on the possible tornado near McNab.

In Monday’s report, amounts of hail and rain, as well as wind speeds, were detailed in several communities. They are as follows:

Estimated amounts of hail by millimetres:

• Duchess: 100 – Grapefruit
• NE Calgary: 54 to 61 – Bigger than hen egg to tennis ball
• Calgary: 21 to 24 – Widespread nickel to quarter
• Linden: 50 – Hen egg
• Barnwell: 45 – Golf ball
• Elnora: 45 – Golf ball
• Balzac: 38 – Walnut/ping pong
• Huxley: 38 – Walnut/ping pong
• Milo: 38 – Walnut/ping pong
• Hanna: 26 – Loonie
• Cochrane: 21 to 24 – Nickel to quarter
• Didsbury: 21 to 24 – Nickel to quarter
• Enchant: 21 – Nickel

Listed below are the 24-hour rainfall amounts, measured in millimetres:

• Deadwood: 74.4
• Calgary: 59.8
• Calgary Intl: 50
• Rocky Mountain House Auto: 49.7
• Hawk Hills: 48.1
• Edson Climate: 45.1
• Edson: 44
• Linden: 35
• Delburne: 34.3
• Three Hills: 31.7
• Hendrickson Creek: 29.6
• High Prairie AGDM: 27
• Carrot Creek AGCM: 26.8
• Leedale AGDM: 25.2
• Nordegg CS: 24.8
• Clear Hills: 22.8
• Hespero: 21.7
• Violet Grove: 21.4
• Willow Creek: 21
• Beaverlodge: 19.3
• Black Diamond: 19.2
• Jean Cote: 18.7
• Ballater AGCM: 17.1
• Edmonton Intl: 17
• Barnwell: 16.9
• Valleyview: 16.2

Several areas experienced high winds Saturday night. They are outlined below by kilometres per hour:

• Priddis Observatory: 128
• Champion: 94
• Verger: 93
• Rainier: 93
• Sunnynook AGCM: 91
• Bull Springs: 89
• Onefour: 85
• Medicine Hat: 83
• Lodge Creek: 83
• Grassy Lake: 81
• Del Bonita: 80
• Masinssin: 80
• Medicine Hat: 70
• Edmonton Intl: 67
• Pincher Creek: 65
  Funnel cloud near Barnwell. (Photo supplied by Laura Leann Hansen)
  Funnel cloud near Taber. (Photo supplied by Tara Fritschy)
  Hail at Johnson Fresh Farms near Taber. (Photo supplied by Johnson Fresh Farms)
  Vehicles on a flooded Deerfoot Trail in Calgary. (Photo supplied by Cody Stuart)
  Hail damage to a windsheld in Calgary. (Photo supplied by Stephan Cassley)