Tornado touches down as thunderstorm moves northeast across Alberta

An Alberta Emergency Alert warned that a tornado touched down Saturday afternoon near St. Paul, Alta., about 200 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.

The alert, which is no longer in effect, said the tornado may cause injury or damage. People in the area were advised to seek shelter immediately.

Police and fire rescue services hadn't been called to assist with any tornado-related emergencies as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday, an RCMP spokesperson said.

An Environment Canada alert issued just before 2:45 p.m. Saturday warned that a severe thunderstorm moving northeast could produce a tornado. The tornado warning first went into effect for the Lamont County region, but ended as the rotating storm moved toward the Smoky Lake region.

The storm was moving at about 50 kilometres per hour. People in the path of the storm might see damaging winds, hail and intense rainfall, according to the Environment Canada website.

"This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation," the initial alert reads. "Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately."

People in the path of the storm were warned to seek shelter in a basement or reinforced structure, like a bathroom, stairwell or closet.

"Get low and put as many walls between yourself and the storm as possible," the Alberta Emergency Alert read. "Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls."

A large cloud formation hovers about Glendon, Alta. (Tracy Walsh)