The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed three tornadoes and one downburst struck parts of southern Saskatchewan on July 10, assigning the twisters an EF1 rating and the downburst an EF0 rating following ground and drone damage surveys.
Survey teams map paths and damage
Damage-assessment crews examined the sites over several days after the storms passed. The NTP determined the tornado near Speers began at about 3:25 p.m., tracked for nearly 8 kilometres with a reported maximum wind speed near 150 km/h and produced a path width of just over 1 kilometre. The project says damage was reported to several farm properties to the south and east of the village; no injuries were reported.
Later that afternoon, tornadoes were documented at Redberry Lake and in the Petrofka–Waldheim area. The Redberry Lake twister began at approximately 4:05 p.m., is estimated to have reached about 150 km/h, and tracked just over 6 kilometres with a path width of roughly 760 metres. The Petrofka–Waldheim tornado developed around 4:21 p.m. and moved eastward toward Waldheim; witnesses captured video and photographs as the event unfolded.
"Damage to trees and a home and garage at a residential property was reported east of Redberry Lake after a storm passed through the area."
Downburst at Rosthern and context
In addition to the three tornadoes, the NTP rated a downburst near Rosthern as EF0. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, used to classify tornado intensity, ranges from EF0 at the low end to EF5 at the most severe.
The NTP carried out combined ground and drone surveys between July 11 and July 13 to document the damage. Survey teams focused on tree damage, structural impacts and the tornado tracks to assign ratings and map the storm paths.
- No injuries were reported in connection with the July 10 events.
- Damage was reported at several rural properties and at least one residential property east of Redberry Lake.
- Survey work included drone imagery to supplement on-the-ground inspections.
| Location | Start time (July 10) | EF rating | Estimated max wind | Track length | Path width |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speers | 3:25 p.m. | EF1 | ~150 km/h | ~8 km | ~1 km |
| Redberry Lake | 4:05 p.m. | EF1 | ~150 km/h | ~6 km | ~760 m |
| Petrofka–Waldheim | 4:21 p.m. | EF1 | Not specified | Track mapped to Waldheim | Not specified |
| Rosthern (downburst) | — | EF0 | — | — | — |
The confirmations come as part of NTP’s ongoing effort to catalogue and rate tornadoes across northern and central Canada. Local authorities and residents use those findings to inform emergency planning and community recovery work. Provincial emergency management agencies typically coordinate assistance where significant property loss occurs; residents affected by severe weather are advised to follow local municipal guidance and watch for information from Saskatchewan Public Safety and municipal offices.
Further updates may follow as provincial or municipal officials assess damage claims or announce assistance measures for impacted farmers and homeowners.
