A weather advisory has been issued that impacts Saskatchewan residents from the Alberta boundary in the west including North Battleford and Maidstone regions south to Kindersley and then in a swathe across the province east to Kamsack, Canora, Preeceville, Yorkton, Melville and Esterhazy. The weather advisory, which says conditions will be favourable for the development of funnel clouds today, includes the Saskatoon region as far north as Rosthern and Wakaw.

Environment Canada says these types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. It’s not normally a danger near the ground. However, there is a chance that this rotation could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado. The national weather forecaster says landspout tornadoes don’t usually cause significant damage, but they can still be dangerous because they can topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.

If landspout tornadoes develop, Environment Canada will upgrade the advisory to watches and warnings.