A tornado touched down at an Alberta campground Wednesday night, injuring five people.
The tornado touched down at the Dillberry Lake Provincial Campground, about 300 kilometres southeast of Edmonton near the Saskatchewan boundary. There was significant damage to trailers and some were completely destroyed.
RCMP say the campground was evacuated by emergency services, and “everyone has been accounted for.” Campers were told to head to the nearby village of Chauvin.
Environment Canada meteorologist Julien Corriveau says five people suffered minor injuries. Neil Loonen, assistant administrator for the Municipal District of Wainwright, says three people were sent to hospital. Loonen said he couldn’t comment on the extent of their injuries.
There are about 40 campsites in the area; Const. Sandra Geiger, an RCMP spokesperson, says she didn’t know many people were staying at the park.
The tornado triggered a since-cancelled Alberta Emergency Alert, at 7:22 p.m., for Wainwright, Provost and Chauvin.
Environment Canada called the tornado, which was moving at 30 km/h, a “very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.”
Wainwright RCMP and surrounding detachments were at the scene.
The Municipal District of Wainwright said fire and rescue departments were dealing with the situation.
“We are asking the general public to avoid the area and allow emergency crews to respond to the event,” the municipal district wrote on Facebook.
A tornado touches down at the Dillberry Lake Provincial Campground in central Alberta on July 8, 2026. (Courtesy: Facebook/Benjamin Hager)
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) confirmed the Dillberry Lake tornado was one of two tornadoes to hit southeast of Edmonton “based on video and photo evidence.” The second one, it says, occurred southwest of Paradise Valley.
“Unfortunately, the second tornado southeast of Chauvin, Alta. appears to have gone through a provincial park. A flipped trailer, tree damage and minor injuries are reported there. It continued southeast into Sask,” the NTP wrote on Facebook.
The group says a damage survey team based in Olds will make its way to Dillberry Lake Thursday to investigate.
–With files from The Canadian Press
A tornado touches down at the Dillberry Lake Provincial Campground in central Alberta on July 8, 2026. (Courtesy: Facebook/Benjamin Hager)
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