A funnel cloud spotted towards Blackfalds at about 7:00 p.m. had Red Deer shutter bugs grabbing their cameras.
Ryan Fiacco, 27, said to see something that powerful come out of the clouds was an “adrenaline rush.”
“I didn’t care. I wanted to get up as close as possible,” said Fiacco who took photos from his yard in Deer Park.
It was the first time he’d seen and photographed a funnel cloud, but he hoped it wouldn’t be his last.
“I would definitely do it again if I had the chance.”
Environment Canada says funnel clouds were spotted north of Red Deer as intense thunderstorms moved southeast of the city at 30 km per hour.
Weather warnings were issued for people in Red Deer to take shelter underground or in a reinforced structure like a bathroom or interior closet.
Alex Ivanenko, 25, a Red Deer County firefighter, also took some photos of the same funnel cloud after he called his parents and girlfriend to warn them.
“I do take it seriously. We live in tornado alley of Canada,” he said from his home in Oriole Park where he took his photos.
He watched the cloud change form for about 30 seconds before it disappeared.
“It had a snake look to it. How it was turning and moving it was almost gross.”
Ivanenko said he was close enough to his front door to run into his basement if necessary.
“It was pretty far away, but they can change their course pretty quick.”
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com