Severe thunderstorm watches in effect for much of the province including Saskatoon, Regina

Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm watches for Saskatoon and Regina, along with areas in the west-central and southern portions Saskatchewan on Sunday.

Isolated severe thunderstorms are expected to develop through late this evening as a low pressure system moves in from Alberta.

The watches warn the storms could bring damaging winds and hail, with the cells “coalescing” into a larger storm system later in the evening, with wind damage the main threat.

People in the affected areas should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions.

The affected areas include the cities of Lloydminster, Saskatoon, Regina, Estevan, Weyburn, Swift Current and the Battlefords.

“The atmosphere is very much unstable,” Environment Canada meteorologist Eric Dykes said Sunday.

“The development of thunderstorms, and the potential for development of thunderstorms is there.”

Dykes said the watches could stretch east as the day continues.

He said the thunderstorms could come late in the afternoon and into Sunday evening, and could bring nickel-sized hail and strong wind gusts.

“(Wind gusts) could approach 90 to 100 km/h,” he said. “We’re not suspecting any tornados today, today does not look prime for that.”

For the latest public alerts from Environment Canada, click here.