Warnings issued as tornadoes are spotted in southwestern Manitoba

Environment Canada issued a series of tornado warnings Wednesday afternoon, alerting people to what it calls a "dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation" for parts of southern Manitoba.

The affected areas covered a swath from the Saskatchewan boundary northwest of Brandon, moving southeast down to the U.S. border near Emerson.

Meteorologists with Environment Canada were tracking a thunderstorm north of La Riviere that had already produced tornadoes northwest of Brandon and was moving southeast at 30 km/h.

Damaging winds, hail ranging in size from nickels to golf balls and locally intense rainfall are also possible, the weather agency said in an alert Wednesday evening.

• If Canada's tornado alley is shifting east, how can we better prepare?

• Tornadoes explained: How they form and what to look out forCBC KIDS NEWS

As of 6:45 p.m, tornado warnings covered the municipalities of Pembina (including Manitou, La Riviere and Snowflake), and Lorne (including Notre Dame and Swan Lake).

Environment Canada also issued severe thunderstorm warnings and watches for much of southwestern Manitoba.