***Environment canada Forecast for Wednesday, June 18th issued Tuesday afternoon***

Environment Canada has issued its preliminary Thunderstorm Outlook for tomorrow afternoon, forecasting a Moderate threat across different parts of the Prairies. These storms will be triggered by a cold front associated with a low pressure system that will sink southward through the Prairies from the Arctic over the course of the day.

Central and Southern Manitoba and into Southeast and East Central Saskatchewan comprise the “A” area, covering from Regina eastward through Manitoba to the Ontario border. In this region, Environment Canada is forecasting that severe thunderstorms could bring up wind gusts up to 90km/h, hail as large as toonies, and 20-30mm of heavy rain.

To the west, area “B” covers Southwest and West Central Saskatchewan. In this region, Environment Canada is forecasting weaker storms here than to the east, with the main risks being wind gusts of 70-90km/h and up to nickel-sized hail.

The strongest severe weather threat in this forecast is in area “D”, located in Central and Southern Alberta. The main risks from the storms in this region, according to Environment, are wind gusts up to 110km/h, hail as large as billiards balls, and 25-50mm of heavy rain.

Surrounding these three main areas with Moderate threats is area “C” with Minor threat. Environment Canada is forecasting that this large area could see storms that have wind gusts up to 70km/h and pea-sized hail.