Tornado warnings in Edmonton and areas including Devon, Leduc and Fort Saskatchewan were downgraded to severe thunderstorm watches on Wednesday.
Environment Canada tracked storms including a line of thunderstorms extending from Edmonton to Hay Lakes, which they said had the potential to produce a tornado. The storms reached speeds of 35 km/h and Environment Canada warned they could be dangerous.
Alberta Emergency Alerts advised those in tornado warning areas to take shelter immediately, in a basement or reinforced structure if a tornado develops.
"Get low and put as many walls between yourself and the storm as possible. Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls. If you are on the highway and cannot avoid the tornado, seek shelter in a ditch or ravine," they said.
Flights were temporarily halted at Edmonton International Airport because of lightning warnings. Ground crews were also told to go indoors, CBC reports.
Edmonton Public Schools also sent an alert to schools at 3 p.m. asking principals to wait for safe weather before letting kids out of school, spokeswoman Jane Sterling told the Edmonton Journal.
The Weather Network shared this photo of a funnel cloud over Pigeon Lake, shortly after 2 p.m., which they say was taken by a resident in the area.
