A tornadic storm that hit Saskatoon is one of Sask.'s worst weather events

This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by Chris Mei from The Weather Network, featuring stories about people, communities and events and how weather impacted them.

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On Thursday, July 4, 1996, aggressive thunderstorms hit Saskatoon, Sask. The storms produced several tornadoes. These Saskatoon thunderstorms are considered one of Saskatchewan's worst weather events.

At 4:50 p.m., thunderstorms started to develop just south-southwest of North Battleford. The storm cluster moved east and formed a supercell. The storm organized into a “hook echo” formation, which is a supercell that appears as hook-shaped on weather radar.

Courtesy of CTV Saskatoon

At 5:45 p.m., the storm produced an F2 tornado. which is referred to as the “Maymont, Sask. F2 tornado." The tornado travelled for 13.6 km with a maximum width of 100 metres.

At 6:04 p.m., a hook formation produced an F3 tornado in Fielding, Sask., near the Yellowhead Highway.

Courtesy of CTV Saskatoon

At 7:00 p.m., the hook was still active just north of Saskatoon. The storm produced around 11 tornadoes. Three of those tornadoes had a track longer than 10 km.

Overall, “severe thunderstorms on July 4 spawned at least eight tornadoes in Saskatchewan. Winds of 140 km/h and hail the size of golf balls produced $15 million in property damage,” reported by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

A Regina tornado on June 30, 1912, is considered Saskatchewan's worst weather event. The tornado is the deadliest twister in Canadian history. A total of 28 people died and hundreds were injured. It flattened homes and businesses, leaving 2,500 homeless.

The Regina tornado was featured on postcards and memorabilia in 1912.

"View of Lorne Street, following the cyclone; two dogs can be seen on the road, as well as two unidentified women walking. (Postcard.)" Courtesy of Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan

To learn more about the July 4 Saskatoon tornado, listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History."

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Thumbnail: Courtesy of CTV Saskatoon