Photo Credit: Erin Brown Facebook
Written by Jenny Hagan Westcentralonline.com
Saskatchewan’s 2026 tornado count has climbed to 40 after the Northern Tornadoes Project confirmed another tornado from the July 10 outbreak, putting the province just one short of its all-time annual record.
The newly confirmed tornado occurred northwest of Birch Hills in central Saskatchewan and has been rated EF1.
The confirmation also brings the July 10 outbreak to 12 tornadoes, making it the largest single-day tornado outbreak recorded in Saskatchewan. The previous single-day high was 10 tornadoes, including an outbreak on June 19, 2025.
The Northern Tornadoes Project confirmed the Birch Hills tornado following a review of satellite imagery from a storm track of interest.
Researchers identified a weak damage path through a forested area northwest of the community. High-resolution satellite imagery also showed visible treefall along the path.
The damage was assessed as consistent with an EF1 tornado, with estimated maximum wind speeds of 145 km/h.
The tornado travelled approximately 2.19 kilometres and reached a maximum path width of 70 metres.
Its movement was from the southwest at approximately 230 degrees, with the start time estimated by radar at around 6:45 p.m. CST July 10.
The Birch Hills confirmation adds another tornado to what was already one of Saskatchewan’s most significant severe-weather outbreaks.
Earlier Northern Tornadoes Project investigations confirmed tornadoes near Speers, Redberry Lake and Petrofka-Waldheim, followed by additional confirmations near Prud’Homme, Plunkett, Dundurn, Cupar, Leross and Herzel.
With Birch Hills added, the July 10 total now stands at 12 confirmed tornadoes.
The outbreak surpasses the previous single-day total of 10 confirmed tornadoes recorded during the June 19, 2025, outbreak. The Northern Tornadoes Project documented two EF2 tornadoes, three EF1 tornadoes and five weaker tornadoes during that event.
The latest confirmation also pushes Saskatchewan’s 2026 seasonal total to 40 tornadoes.
That leaves the province just one tornado short of the record of 41 set in 1999.
Several of this year’s tornadoes were not confirmed until weeks or months after the storms occurred as researchers continued examining ground surveys, photographs, video, radar and satellite imagery.
With the Birch Hills tornado now included, 2026 sits one confirmation away from matching Saskatchewan’s highest recorded annual tornado total.
