A twisting cloud was spotted near Prince George Airport in B.C. on Tuesday evening around 8:30 p.m., shortly before residents got a tornado alert on their phones. Yahoo!
On Tuesday night, people in Prince George, B.C., received an unexpected emergency alert. At 8:18 p.m. PT, phones buzzed with a warning about a possible tornado in the area. The alert told everyone to take shelter right away—either in a basement or an inner room of their home. Those outside were urged to protect themselves from flying debris.
Prince George, home to nearly 90,000 people, is located about 515 kilometres northeast of Vancouver. The alert created a wave of concern across the community, with many unsure of what was happening in the skies above.
Warning Lifted Quickly
The tornado alert didn’t last long. Environment Canada lifted it shortly after it was sent out. However, by 8:30 p.m. PT, a severe thunderstorm warning remained active in the area.
Storm activity continued east of the city, moving at about 50 km/h. Environment Canada warned that strong winds, heavy rain, and hail could still pose danger. People were advised to stay indoors and be ready for any sudden changes in weather.
Officials explained that a thunderstorm warning is issued when storms are likely to cause serious damage. These storms might bring big hail, fast winds, or intense rain. While the tornado alert was brief, the threat of dangerous weather wasn’t over.
Larger Region on Watch
The risk wasn’t just in Prince George. A severe thunderstorm watch covered a large area of central B.C. This included towns like Quesnel and areas stretching all the way to the Alberta border.
Watches are less urgent than warnings but still important. They mean conditions are right for dangerous storms to form. Residents across the region were told to be alert and ready to act quickly if the weather changed.
B.C.’s First Tornado of 2025
This wasn’t the first tornado scare in the area this year. Back in May, B.C. saw its first tornado of 2025 near Vanderhoof, which is located west of Prince George.
That earlier tornado was confirmed by weather experts at a Canadian university. They said it was a landspout-style tornado, which is weaker than the ones often seen in the U.S. Midwest. Luckily, it caused no damage.
As of Tuesday night, no reports confirmed a tornado near Prince George. The same expert team had not posted any updates about a confirmed twister.
