Parts of southern Manitoba under tornado watch: Environment ...

Tornado watches have been issued for a swath of Manitoba on Wednesday, Environment Canada says.

An unstable air mass over southern Manitoba combined with strong upper-level winds and low-level boundaries support the storms and a possible development of tornadoes, according to the weather agency.

The following regions were under a tornado watch as of 4:21 p.m. CT:

Winnipeg.Steinbach, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Vita and Richer.Rural municipality  of Woodlands including Warren and  Lake Francis.Rural municipality of Rockwood including Teulon, Stonewall and Stony Mountain.Rural municipality of Rosser including Meadows.Rural municipality  of West St. Paul including Middlechurch and Rivercrest.Rural municipality  of St. Andrews, including Selkirk, Lockport and Ponemah. Dugald, Beausejour and Grand Beach. Portage la Prarie, Headingly, Brunkild and Carman. Morden, Winkler, Altona and Morris. Whiteshell, Lac Du Bonnet and Pinawa. Sprauge and Northwest Angle Provincial Forest. Rural municipality of Coldwell, including Lundar and Clarkleigh.Rural municipality of Gimli, including Winnipeg Beach and Arnes.Rural municipality of St. Laurent, including Oak Point.Rural municipality of Armstrong, including Chatfield Inwood and Narcisse.Bisset, Victoria Beach, Nopiming Provincial Park and Pine Falls.Dauphin, Russell, Roblin and Winnipegosis.Ste. Rose, McCreary, Alonsa and Gladstone.Arborg, Hecla, Fisher River, Gypsumville and Ashern.Berens River, Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein and Atikaki.Poplar River.Grand Rapids and Waterhen.

Environment Canada says conditions in those areas are suitable for severe thunderstorms and contain "ideal ingredients for significant tornadoes" Wednesday afternoon.

Forecasters say the storms will develop late afternoon and into the early evening before they head east to the Ontario border, the tornado watch says.

Environment Canada weather alerts for Manitoba