Environment Canada has issued a tornado advisory for east-central Alberta.
Funnel clouds in the area have been reported very close to the ground. It is possible they may touch down and become brief landspout tornadoes.
The risk lasts until early this evening.
Where the advisory covers
The area runs between approximately Cold Lake, Lloydminster, Vegreville and Smoky Lake/Whitefish Lake.
That box takes in St. Paul, Bonnyville, Two Hills, Vermilion and Elk Point, along with the surrounding rural areas and campgrounds.
If a tornado develops or a warning is issued
Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows. A basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet.
Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and any other temporary or free-standing shelter. Move to a strong building if you can.
As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
If you are camping
This is the population most at risk today, and the advisory area is full of provincial parks and lakeside campgrounds in mid-August.
A tent or a trailer is not shelter. Neither is a vehicle. Find the nearest permanent building now rather than when you need it. Campground washroom blocks and service buildings are usually the closest solid structure.
Keep a phone charged and Alberta Emergency Alert notifications on. Alerts push automatically and cannot be turned off.
Five weeks ago, in the same corner of the province
On July 8, two tornadoes touched down in east-central Alberta. Environment Canada confirmed them the following afternoon, describing two separate tornadoes observed between Edgerton and Dillberry Provincial Park.
The first was reported southwest of Paradise Valley, about 40 minutes south of Lloydminster. The second hit Dillberry Lake Provincial Park, southeast of Chauvin.
There were 42 occupied campsites at Dillberry when it arrived. Trailers were blown around and some were destroyed. Five people were injured and three went to hospital. The MD of Wainwright confirmed there was no loss of life and that a full grid search accounted for every camper.
Benjamin Hager, camping with his family, told CBC's Edmonton AM that it was only about 15 minutes before everything turned terrible.
That's the timeline worth holding onto today. Not hours. Minutes.
Alberta Tornado Tears Through Dillberry Lake Campground Near Lloydminster, Campers Sent to Hospital
What a landspout is
A landspout builds from the ground upward, out of a growing thunderstorm, rather than descending from a rotating supercell. They tend to be weaker and shorter-lived, and often look like a narrow rope.
That doesn't make them harmless. A landspout can flip a trailer, bring down trees and power lines, and injure anyone caught outside or in a temporary structure. The Prairies produce them regularly in summer.
Reporting and updates
Severe weather can be reported to Environment Canada at ABstorm@ec.gc.ca, by calling 1-800-239-0484, or with #ABStorm. Only report from a safe location.
Live alerts for your exact area are at emergencyalert.alberta.ca and weather.gc.ca.
This is developing. We will update this article as it changes.
Sources
Alberta Emergency Alert, tornado advisory, August 13, 2026
Environment and Climate Change Canada, weather summary confirming July 8 tornadoes
Municipal District of Wainwright, public advisory, July 2026
Camper accounts as reported by CBC News.
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