Update: Environment Canada issues watches & warnings for potential dangerous thunderstorms

Original story:

Environment & Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued an Orange alert Sunday morning for potentially dangerous thunderstorm activity for a large section of southern Alberta, skirting along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border, and northwest into the Calgary region.

While traditionally Yellow alerts are issued for thunderstorm watches and warnings in our area, the weather agency upgraded to Orange, classifying both its confidence and the impact level at HIGH.

It’s warning that conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, damaging hail and heavy rain this afternoon and into this evening.

In a weather statement, it said “Heavy rain can cause flash flooding and significant reductions to visibility. Strong wind gusts can damage trees, buildings and overturn vehicles. Large hail can cause significant damage and injury.”

Among the larger centres under the Orange alert: Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Brooks, Taber, Claresholm, High River, and Calgary.

Southwest communities like Pincher Creek and Crowsnest Pass are not part of the alert, however, ECCC is urging that you monitor conditions throughout the day.

According to a daily thunderstorm outlook provided by the weather agency, winds could reach 110 km/h near the storms, with a possible 30 millimetres of rain and up to 5 cm of hail in some locales.

Here is a link to Environment & Climate Change Canada’s weather warnings and alerts page.

by Dave Lueneberg

Update: Environment Canada issues watches & warnings for potential dangerous thunderstorms

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