Tornado reportedly touches down near village of Edam, Sask.

Tornado reportedly touches down near village of Edam, Sask.

Environment Canada reports tornado seen on ground in west-central Saskatchewan

A tornado was spotted on the ground near the Saskatchewan village of Edam, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) reported Friday amid a flurry of weather warnings.

The alert was sent at 4:05 p.m. CST and also warned of high winds, intense rainfall and large hail.

"This is a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation," the alert from Environment and Climate Change Canada says.

"Take cover immediately in a basement, interior room, or a sturdy shelter when threatening weather approaches. If no shelter is available, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris."

That alert has since been downgraded to an orange severe thunderstorm warning.

Red tornado alerts were also issued Friday afternoon for the village of Perdue, about 60 kilometres west of Saskatoon, the village of Glaslyn, Battlefords Provincial Park, Parry and Pangman. These alerts said ECCC was tracking weather that could produce tornadoes.

Phil Tank is an award-winning journalist based in Saskatoon. He can be reached at phil.tank@cbc.ca.