Tornado watch issued for central, southern Alberta

Environment Canada has issued a tornado watch for parts of central and southern Alberta, including Red Deer, Ponoka, Innisfail, Stettler, Drumheller, Stettler, Three Hills, Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan, Coronation, Oyen, Medicine Hat, Bow Island, Suffield.

The following bulletin was posted on the Environment Canada website:

"Conditions are favourable for the development of funnel clouds or weak tornadoes. These types of funnel clouds form out of large cumulus clouds or very weak thunderstorms and normally do not have the energy to reach the ground. However one or two of these funnels may briefly touch down and can become destructive over a very small area. Treat all funnel clouds and tornadoes seriously and avoid when possible. Should one develop overhead take shelter until it dissipates. Remember these funnel clouds will normally appear with little or no warning."

Those who spot a funnel cloud or tornado can report their sighting to Environment Canada's severe weather line at 1-800-239-0484.