Figure 1 depicts the surface observations at 12:00 pm MDT, which shows a cold front moving across Alberta. This front became the focus for intense thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours of July 31st, which ultimately led to a tornado outbreak.
Eight tornadoes occurred on this day, the other tornadoes were:
- Leduc, AB F0 Tornado
- Edmonton, AB F1 Tornado
- Iddesleigh, AB F0 Tornado
- Blue Ridge, AB F0 Tornado
- Millet, AB F2 Tornado
- Island Lake, AB F0 Tornado
- Edmonton, AB F4 Tornado
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (2018), an F2 tornado touched down at 3:01 pm MDT near Beaumont, AB. The tornado travelled for 7.26 km and had a maximum width of 205 metres.
Sources
NWS Weather Prediction Center Surface Analysis Archive. (2017). Surface analysis 18Z Fri Jul 31 1987. Retrieved from: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/archives/web_pages/sfc/sfc_archive.php
Environment and Climate Change Canada Data. (2018). Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1980-2009) – Public. Retrieved from: http://donnees.ec.gc.ca/data/weather/products/canadian-national-tornado-database-verified-events-1980-2009-public/