Photo: Storm clouds circle over Rochon Sands on Saturday, July 4, as severe weather moved through east-central Alberta. Photo submitted by Jill Rhyason.

East-central Alberta was under a tornado warning Saturday evening as a severe summer storm system moved across the region, bringing the threat of a tornado, large hail, damaging wind and heavy rain.

Environment Canada issued the warning July 4 for parts of Stettler County, Starland County and Special Area No. 2, including Delia, Hanna, Spondin, Big Valley and Endiang. At 6:41 p.m., meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm that was possibly producing a tornado near the Byemoor and Endiang area. The warning said damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall were also possible.

The warning later shifted east into Special Area No. 2. At 7:06 p.m., Environment Canada reported the tornadic thunderstorm was located over Comet and moving east at 45 km/h. The agency described the situation as dangerous and potentially life-threatening, but the alert did not confirm that a tornado had touched down.

A broader tornado watch was also in place for much of east-central Alberta, including Stettler, Big Valley, Donalda, Botha, Gadsby, Castor, Coronation, Forestburg, Galahad, Halkirk, Three Hills, Trochu, Hanna, Consort, Oyen, Cereal and Provost. The watch warned that conditions were favourable for severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, strong wind, large hail and heavy rain.

The same weather system affected other parts of Alberta earlier in the day. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Lacombe and Ponoka counties at 4:52 p.m., with Environment Canada tracking an extremely dangerous storm capable of damaging wind gusts, heavy rain and baseball-sized or larger hail near Lacombe, Blackfalds, Bentley, Clive, Alix, Mirror, Ponoka and Maskwacis.

Central Alberta Online reported large hail across parts of central Alberta, with photos and videos showing hail covering roads, yards and campsites as the storms moved east. The outlet reported unofficial resident accounts of hail large enough to damage vehicles and vegetation.

The Weather Network reported the July 4 setup was driven by a strengthening low-pressure system, upper-level energy, warm humid air and favourable wind shear. The agency said the greatest severe weather risk was across central and southern Alberta before spreading into central Saskatchewan, with storms capable of forming as supercells before growing into larger clusters.

For east-central Alberta, the evening warnings were another reminder of how quickly summer weather can turn dangerous. The same conditions that have brought repeated rounds of moisture to fields and pastures this season also created a volatile storm environment, where heavy rain, hail and rotation could develop within a short period.

Producers and rural residents are expected to continue checking fields, yards, buildings and equipment for damage following the storm. No public confirmation of a tornado touchdown in east-central Alberta was found in the official alerts reviewed, but the warnings show the storm had enough rotation to trigger emergency messaging across a wide part of the region.