Canada has recorded its first tornado of the year, and the honor belongs to

Canada has recorded its first tornado of the year, and the honor belongs to... As we approach the midpoint of April, Canada has officially confirmed its first tornado of 2025.

After weeks of severe weather and tornado activity south of the border, it was expected that some of that meteorological energy would eventually make its way into Canada as spring progresses. Although Canada has experienced numerous thunderstorms this spring, with many areas reporting severe criteria, there hadn't been a confirmed tornado in 2025 until this past Saturday.

Alberta is the province where the country's first twister of the year occurred, while other regions in the province were still facing winter weather. This landspout tornado, which does not develop from the supercells that can spawn destructive and deadly tornadoes, was documented in both photographs and video on Saturday, April 12, before receiving official confirmation from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The tornado touched down northwest of Rolling Hills at approximately 5:20 p.m. MDT.

ECCC reported that a brief tornado was spotted about 10 kilometers north of Rolling Hills. They received several reports and images, but so far, no damage has been reported. The tornado has been given a preliminary rating of EF-0. "This tornado is classified as a landspout, generated by weak rotation beneath quickly developing clouds or weak thunderstorms. While landspout tornadoes typically result in minimal damage, they can still pose risks, such as uprooting trees, damaging roofs, or throwing debris short distances," stated ECCC in their summary of the tornado confirmation.

The Conditions: Saturday's weather did not present a supercell environment, but Alberta exhibited its unique weather phenomena. The presence of cool air aloft combined with surface heating caused rapid temperature drops with altitude. There was minimal convective available potential energy (CAPE), only a couple of hundred joules, which is typical for early-season weather patterns. Without significant supercell indicators, the conditions were ripe for landspout formation, even with dew points falling below freezing. It is likely that this tornado developed along a boundary or convergence zone, becoming a visible funnel as a result of quickly growing updrafts. Distinguishing Tornado Types: Several factors differentiate a landspout tornado from a tornado produced by a supercell. First, landspout tornadoes do not originate from rotating supercells. They typically form at convergence points or outflow boundaries and tend to be weaker, often rated EF-0 or EF-1, though they can still cause damage.

Imagine a small rotating column of air or leaves near the ground—it might seem innocuous. However, strong lift due to a rapidly rising updraft above this swirl can stretch and intensify the rotation. This phenomenon is akin to a figure skater spinning faster by pulling in their arms. Looking Ahead: With tornado season still in its early stages, Saturday's twister is unlikely to be the last for Alberta in 2025, as the province averages over 11 tornadoes annually.

Alberta also recorded Canada's first tornado in 2023, which occurred on May 11 near Cayley, where another landspout, rated EF-0, was documented. In contrast, the 2024 tornado season began significantly earlier, with Ontario experiencing its earliest tornado on March 16, just south of Windsor, matching the provincial record. Below are just a few visuals of the landspout tornado that have surfaced on social media.