SUNDRE — Environment Canada has issued a tornado warning for the area around Sundre.
It says a tornado briefly touched down south of Sundre, near the town of Bergen, around 4:40 p.m.
The agency says it received reports from two weather watchers in the area, as well as from aircraft flying in the area.
There have also been reports of heavy downpours and large hail.
The warning is for Sundre, Olds and Didsbury. The warning has been downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning for Carstairs, Stirlingville, Water Valley and Cremona.
People in those areas are being urged to take immediate safety precautions.
Mark Wasden was driving home from Sundre to Airdrie and had stopped in Bergen. He said it was like winter driving conditions.
“I made it through the hail, I would say there was a good four inches of hail (on the road) and because the road is warm, it’s fogging up, you can’t see to drive. It’s really wicked. The trees are getting shredded, people have parked anywhere they can, under trees, just any cover they can find.”
He said the clouds were different colours and were rotating.
“You look and the sky is thick and you know something bad is going to happen.”