Tornado dismantles metal storage building southeast of Regina

A family and their friends spent part of Monday cleaning nearby fields of debris in the aftermath of a tornado that stripped their storage building and spread its scraps over a few kilometres.

"That tornado ate it," said Jennifer Kreklewich, who lives on the property with her husband, Cole Zinkhan, and their two kids.

The damage to theproperty, about 11 kilometres southeast of Regina's city centre, is the only wreckage documented by Environment Canada from Saturday night's tornado.

It's also the first tornado in Canada this year, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Terri Lang.

"Some people are saying, 'Is it early?' No, it is not early for tornadoes. We're in storm season now and everybody should be prepared," Lang said.

She was uncertain how long the tornado was active, although storm chaser Craig Boehm, who was tracking the tornado, said it touched down shortly after 9 p.m. CST. He estimatedit travelled about five to six kilometres during the approximately six minutes it was active.

The last recorded tornado in Saskatchewan was Aug. 4, 2022.

WATCH| Tornado stripsstorage building and spreads its scraps over a few kilometres:

Tornado dismantles metal storage building southeast of Regina

1 year ago

Duration 1:49

A family and their friends spent part of Monday cleaning nearby fields of debris in the aftermath of a tornado that stripped their storage building and spread its scraps over a few kilometres near Regina.

No one injured by wreckage

Zinkhan was confused when hisneighbour texted him Sunday morning to see if he and his family were OK.

They were at their cottage celebrating Kreklewich'sbirthday. It wasn't until his neighboursent photos of his metal storage building that he woke up his family and packed to go home.

Kreklewich said while the exterior is basically gone, the items inside aren't as affected. Their homes, within100 metres of the shed, are untouched.

The building is insured, Zinkhansaid, but he is now in the process of going through the insurance claim.

"It's a pain in the butt, but deal with it as it comes, I guess," Zinkhansaid of the wreck.

Parker Schikowski, whose family is renting the nearby land to farm, said the incident hasn't delayed seeding and spraying much.

He said his land extends a few kilometres away and the debris reached it.

Tornado to be examined for severity

Environment Canada's initial assessment of the tornado was an EF0, the lowest on the "enhanced Fujita" scale, whichrates the tornado based on the wind speeds, determined by the damage it causes.

"A lot of people think it's the size of them and that's not the caseso if they don't hit anything, we can't rate them," Lang said.

The rating was assigned before Environment Canada was aware of the damage to Zinkhan's farm. Lang said surveyors were headed to the site on Monday afternoon and their examination could change the tornado's rating.

During the weekend, the Regina area was also hit by thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain and spiky, golf-ball sized hail.