During a tornado warning, Alberta citizens should be aware that a tornado is likely to occur, and it either happening now or likely to happen soon. Personal prescription medication needs for up to 7 days, 1 roller bandage (10cm, or 4 inches wide), 5 sterile gauze pads (8cm, or 3 inches) x 8cm, or 3 inches, 5 sterile gauze pads (10cm, or 4 inches) x 10cm or 4 inches, Oral thermometer (non-mercury, non-glass). We use cookies on this site to improve your experience as explained in our Cookie Policy. It travelled 7.26 kilometres (4.51 mi). Shortly after 3:00 pm, the tornado again touched down in the Beaumont area, tossing granaries and farm equipment as it grew in size and strength. There, the tornado completely destroyed nearly 200 mobile homes in the area, killed 15 people and injured numerous others. The Emergency Public Warning System, later replaced by Alberta Emergency Alert, was developed as a result of the 1987 tornado disaster. Be aware and be prepared. The tornado moved into the southeast portion of the city as a multiple-vortex tornado, and tracked north along the eastern portions of Mill Woods, causing F2 to F3 damage. [10] Grass scouring and windrowing of debris occurred, and damage in that area may have been borderline F5, but was never officially ranked as such.[11]. An F2 tornado touched down near Beaumont, south of Edmonton. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. [7] Weatheradio broadcasts and interviews with the media stressed "vicious thunderstorms" and "extremely strong and violent thunderstorms". [10] The tornado persisted as it headed northeast toward the Evergreen Mobile Home Park. This chart provides an at-a-glance risk level summary for the next 3 days. At the end of August 1987 details of the overall damage costs were gathered and the Government of Alberta announced an extensive disaster recovery program with the assistance of the Government of Canada. Edmonton Tornado, thunderstorm warnings end for Alberta. [9], At 3:04 pm, a tornado warning was issued for the city. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Weather forecasts issued during the morning and early afternoon of July 31, 1987 for Edmonton revealed a recognition by Environment Canada of a high potential for unusually severe thunderstorms that afternoon. Environment Canada ended its tornado warnings for Wetaskiwin County, Leduc County and Brazeau County just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday. ", Rotation has weakened but you do not want to be in there @PrairieChasers 4:45pm pic.twitter.com/wxr99pyD98. INFORMATION ALERT. The tornado was on the ground briefly before dissipating. The tornado tossed several large oil tanks, leveled several industrial buildings, and several trailers were picked up and scattered at Laidlaw and Byers Transport. You can reject cookies by changing your browser settings. Include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order. Environment Canada responded swiftly upon receipt of the first report of a tornado touchdown from a resident of Leduc County which is immediately adjacent to Edmonton's southern boundary. Tornado, thunderstorm warnings end for Alberta, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending between a thundercloud and the ground and can reach speeds of up to 400 km/h in some cases. He watched the storm unfold just east of Drayton Valley. It’s recommended to replace food and water once a year. The following is a chronology of events that occurred on July 31, 1987. Information on COVID-19 can be found at Alberta.ca/COVID-19. [8] If you wish to view this information on a map, please scroll below. EPC established a liaison office at the response centre at approximately 1800 hours that same day. Government of Canada suggests the following warning signs of a potential tornado: • Severe thunderstorms, with frequent thunder and lightning Daytime heating along with near-record dewpoints over Alberta triggered a series of strong thunderstorms that persisted throughout the week. Edmonton's Carvel radar was one of only three Dopplers to exist in Canada at the time. The Edmonton tornado of 1987, an event also known as Black Friday to Edmontonians, was a powerful and devastating tornado that ripped through the eastern parts of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and parts of neighbouring Strathcona County on the afternoon of Friday, July 31, 1987. Environment Canada ended its tornado warnings for Wetaskiwin County, Leduc County and Brazeau County just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday. At 1:40 pm, a severe weather watch was issued for the Edmonton area, including Leduc County, Parkland County, and Strathcona County. If an emergency occurs in your community, it may take emergency response teams some time to reach you. 3-Day Severe Weather Outlook Edmonton, AB The Severe Weather Outlook helps you prepare for significant weather, such as an upcoming storm, that could result in weather warnings or alerts … [16], The song "Tornado '87" by The Rural Alberta Advantage, on their 2011 album Departing, was inspired by singer Nils Edenloff's experience as a child surviving the tornado. In the week preceding July 31, a low pressure system sitting over southwestern British Columbia fed warm, humid air into central Alberta. Most develop in the late afternoon and early evening. "It's huge," he said. Tornado and extreme wind facts The Edmonton tornado of 1987, an event also known as Black Friday to Edmontonians, was a powerful and devastating tornado that ripped through the eastern parts of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and parts of neighbouring Strathcona County on the afternoon of Friday, July 31, 1987. On July 31, a cold front developed over western Alberta, colliding with the warm moist air that persisted over the region. Environment Canada ended its tornado warnings for Wetaskiwin County, Leduc County and Brazeau County just … Current Alerts . "It's the most unreal thing that I've ever seen ... you can't even describe it, it's that crazy. The watch was later upgraded to a warning at 2:45 pm as the line of storms approached the area. [14] The warning system breaks into private and public broadcasts on radio, television and cable systems. ", Audience Relations, CBC P.O. As emergency personnel responded to the industrial area, potential threats from dangerous goods came to light. © 2020 The Weather Network Pelmorex Weather Networks. A severe thunderstorm rolled through Edmonton Friday evening, prompting Environment Canada to issue a tornado watch and bringing large chunks of hail to … Below that, we have some videos on the potential alert type to help you get ahead of the storm and plan accordingly. The loss of life, injuries and destruction of property made it the worst natural disaster in Alberta's recent history and one of the worst in Canada's history. As the cluster of storms approached the Leduc area, a violent cell rapidly developed ahead of the main line of storms and sharply turned northward. It was one of seven other tornadoes in central Alberta the same day. The emergent post-disaster response period lasted for approximately three weeks including immediate disaster assistance for victims. Tornado Warning Signs for Alberta. It alerts the public for all disaster hazards that threaten to strike with little or no warning. While municipal emergency agencies, fire departments, ambulance and police were responding, Canada's Department of National Defence placed helicopters and ambulances on standby at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, and provided reconnaissance flights for the City of Edmonton and the deputy prime minister. The first severe weather watches were issued over central Alberta late in the morning and continued early in the afternoon. "It's like it's alive. The storm passed east of Leduc, where the first tornado report made by a weather spotter at 2:59 pm.