More storms, possible tornadoes forecast for Sunday, Monday in Sask.

The Land of the Living Skies lived up to its name on Saturday as some spectacular storms rolled across the province.

Thunderstorms, including those with the potential for tornado activity, are also forecast for the next few days.

In a forecast issued at 7 a.m. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Prairie and Arctic Storm Prediction Centre (PASPC) said unsettled weather will continue in southern parts of the province on Sunday and it could support super-cell thunderstorms.

In that vein, a critical tornado alert was issued at 3:18 p.m. for southeastern Saskatchewan. Extra care and attention should be exercised in and around Tonkin, Rhein, Wroxton, MacNutt, Langenburg, Spy Hill, Esterhazy, Bangor and Saltcoats, forcasters said.

That forecast was updated to include R.M. of Moosomin, Moosomin, Welwyn, Fleming, R.M. of Rocanville, and Rocanville at 4:36 p.m.

Hail and wind will be the predominant severe weather threat, they said.

Forecasters added that, similar to Saturday, lack of a trigger to focus thunderstorm development makes it difficult to pinpoint if and where they might develop.

A secondary area of potential severe thunderstorm development will form later in the day over southwestern Saskatchewan, and storms in this area have the potential to last overnight, PASPC said, and continue on Monday morning.

The active, unsettled weather pattern will continue for the next few days, the report added, with conditions setting up for a severe weather outbreak over southern Saskatchewan.

PASPC also said that patchy fog will be possible the next few nights as humidity levels remain relatively high.

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Air quality improved in the south

Air quality has improved in the south of the province, and smoky air is now concentrated where active fires are located.

Saskatchewan had 72 active wildfires on Sunday.

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said in its daily report on Aug. 18 that nine of the blazes were not contained, firefighters were working to protect property at 20 locations and 39 of the fires were under ongoing assessment. Four fires were considered contained.

SPSA said work was continuing on the the Flanagan wildfire that caused evacuations in Sandy Bay this week with firefighters on the front lines at the west and southwest sides of the fire and planning was underway for operations on the south and southeast sides nearest Sandy Bay and SaskPower station

There are also a number of fire bans in the province. A map with banned areas can be found here.

SPSA says there have been 486 fires in Saskatchewan so far in 2024. The five-year annual average for Saskatchewan wildfires is 333. The province had a record-setting wildfire season in 2023.

There were no reports of significant damage from Saturday’s storms there was no shortage of great photos from Saskatchewan folks. Here is a selection:

Photo taken in Allan on Aug 17, 2024. (Kamryn Burnett/Facebook

Hail from a storm in Anerley, SK. on Aug. 17 2024. (George Hofer/Submitted)

Hail ruined an evening on the patio near Elstow, SK, on Aug. 17, 2024. (R.W. Kallio/Submitted)

I swear the luck just isn't there the last two years. Any time I go out storm chasing I am either in the wrong place or the storms go flat. This evening at lake Diefenbaker is the only shot I got, and it is sub average at best. #skstorm pic.twitter.com/gvm0ZLsWYO

— Jeff Wizniak (@WizniakJeff) August 18, 2024