Stormy Manitoba weather sparks tornado warnings, but no touchdowns: meteorologist

Environment Canada says conditions were right for a tornado to develop, but none were spotted

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for several areas of Manitoba on Thursday afternoon, but no tornadoes were reported.

Environment Canada meteorologist Dave Carlsen said the conditions were right for a tornado to develop, but none were spotted.

"We had a lot of instability in the atmosphere, and we had a lot of wind shear," Carlsen said.

"Those are two of the main ingredients for tornadoes."

Carlsen said there were several reports of funnel clouds, but no confirmed tornadoes.

"A funnel cloud is a rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm cloud," Carlsen said.

"If it touches the ground, it becomes a tornado."

Carlsen said the severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for several areas of Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Brandon, and Portage la Prairie.

"We had a lot of reports of large hail and strong winds," Carlsen said.

"There were also some reports of flooding."

Carlsen said the severe thunderstorm warnings were lifted at around 6:30 p.m.

"The storms have moved out of the province," Carlsen said.

"We're not expecting any more severe weather today."