Thunderstorm watches, warnings pop up in Saskatchewan

Environment Canada may be lifting heat warnings in Saskatchewan, but the same can’t be said for thunderstorm advisories.

Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, the weather service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for areas near Webb, Simmie and Scotsguard in southwestern Saskatchewan.

The warnings were extended just before 2 p.m., to include areas around Frontier, Eastend and Ravenscrag. As the afternoon wore on, regions around Arcola, Kisbey, Carlyle, Coronach, Ponteix, Shaunavon, Kincaid and the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park also were included in the warnings.

The advisory said the storms could produce strong wind gusts, nickel- to ping pong ball-sized hail and heavy rain.

Environment Canada also put severe thunderstorm watches in place for regions across the southern part of the province, including Regina, Moose Jaw, Lumsden, Fort Qu’Appelle, Indian Head, Estevan, Weyburn, Milestone, Grenfell, Swift Current, Yorkton and Melville.

Parts of Saskatchewan have been pounded by thunderstorms for much of the past week, with Environment Canada occasionally issuing tornado warnings as well as severe thunderstorm warnings and watches.

Some areas have had to deal with flooded basements and roads as a result of the deluges.