3D Rendering of a tornado into withered corn field next to utility poles
 Photo: BrilliantEye/IStock/Getty Images

Types of tornado mimics

What spin like a tornadoes, but aren’t tornadoes? A number of weather phenomenon fit the description

Not everything with spinning winds on the Canadian Prairies is a tornado. From dust devils to cold-core funnel clouds, there are a number of weather phenomenon that fit the description.



The sky darkens over central Manitoba after a hot summer day. PHOTO: ALEXIS STOCKFORD

Thunderstorms and straight-line winds

Straight-line winds in thunderstorms can cause as much damage as a tornado

Straight-line winds in thunderstorms can cause as much damage as a tornado and are next on our weather school list exploring how and why severe summer weather forms.



Photo: Thinkstock

Prairie forecast: Potential to turn cool and wet

Forecast issued July 9, covering July 9 to 16, 2025

For this forecast period we are starting off with a large area of high pressure over Ontario and an equally large area of low pressure over the Yukon. The clockwise flow around the Ontario high, combined with the counterclockwise flow around the Yukon low, is creating a widespread southerly flow across the Prairies. This should lead to one more day of warm temperatures across the western Prairies and a couple more days over the eastern half.