Severe Hailstorm Hits Radisson: Tennis Ball-Sized Hail Reported

UPDATE: A devastating hailstorm struck Radisson, Saskatchewan, on Wednesday night, unleashing tennis ball-sized hail that shattered multiple car windshields and caused widespread damage. As severe weather continues to grip the province, residents are facing the aftermath of destructive hail, extreme winds, and even funnel clouds.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the storm escalated around 6 p.m., with meteorologist Crawford Luke confirming that the most intense activity emerged near the Alberta border. “A lot of people across west-central Saskatchewan experienced a significant lightning show and severe weather,” Luke stated. The storm tracked down the Yellowhead Highway, affecting areas just north of Saskatoon and ultimately reaching Humboldt.

Eyewitness reports describe harrowing conditions. Hayley Schwendemann, owner of Pickle Patch Gardens in Neuanlage, recounted a terrifying evening with her children as they huddled in their basement. “It went from being kind of dusk to all of a sudden black. The hail hit the house like baseball bats,” she recalled. Schwendemann’s garden was devastated, leaving her dreams for the season in ruins. “You put a lot of hopes and dreams into that, and now it’s gone,” she expressed.

In addition to the hail, a funnel cloud was sighted near Martinsville, with unconfirmed tornado reports emerging from Cudworth. ECCC has already received multiple damage reports and anticipates more will follow as assessments continue.

Wind gusts reached alarming speeds, with North Battleford recording a peak of 129 km/h and another station measuring 113 km/h. Other locations like Kindersley and Maple Creek also reported significant gusts, contributing to the storm’s ferocity.

Luke emphasized the nature of the storm, noting that supercell thunderstorms are typically responsible for producing such large hail. “When we see tennis ball-sized hail, it indicates a powerful supercell thunderstorm with strong updrafts capable of supporting heavier objects,” he explained.

As residents in Saskatchewan begin to assess the damage, authorities are urging caution and preparedness for any additional severe weather in the coming days. The situation remains fluid, with updates expected as more reports come in.

Stay tuned for continued coverage as we monitor this developing story.