Environment Canada ended a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the Airdrie and Crossfield area Wednesday afternoon after tracking an active storm cell that moved eastward across the region.
The warning, issued at 1:26 p.m. MDT and later lifted, had covered a storm located between Carstairs and Crossfield moving east at 30 km/h. Forecasters warned of “very strong wind gusts, up to nickel-size hail and heavy rain.”
Prior to expiry, the agency said heavy rain could cause flash flooding and reduce visibility, and that large hail may cause significant damage and injury. Residents were advised to take immediate cover if conditions deteriorated.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued earlier in the day remains in effect for the Airdrie region. That alert warns of additional storm development through the afternoon and evening, with the potential for damaging wind gusts, hail and heavy rainfall.
Local forecast: Storm risk continues into the evening
As of 10:34 a.m. MDT, the forecast for Airdrie called for a 60 per cent chance of showers and a risk of a thunderstorm through the afternoon. The high is expected to reach 21°C, with a UV index of 7.
Thunderstorm risk continues into the evening with a low of 4°C and a risk of frost overnight. Thursday is expected to clear, with a high of 18°C, followed by a 60 per cent chance of rain on Friday and a high of 14°C.
Storm prediction centre: Supercells forming, tornado possible south of Calgary
In a revised weather bulletin, Environment Canada’s Prairie and Arctic Storm Prediction Centre said thunderstorms were already developing across much of Alberta.
“In the south, a developing low will focus thunderstorm activity this afternoon,” the bulletin said. “The main feature will be [a] developing low and associated trough aligned along the foothills.”
A separate line of instability — known as a dry line — is expected to form along the southern foothills, pushing east toward Medicine Hat. Forecasters said conditions in that area will be especially favourable for rotating thunderstorms, or supercells, capable of producing large hail and possibly a tornado.
“Large hail will be the main threat with these storms, but with the dry line, a tornado is possible,” the bulletin stated.
Further north, along the foothills north of Calgary, storms are expected to initiate earlier in the day. “Supercells are also expected to form here and track eastward with hail being the main threat,” the bulletin said. “There is also a chance that one of these cells produces a tornado.”
The agency also identified a secondary storm zone stretching from the Peace Country to Lloydminster, where brief, isolated storms may form and funnel clouds are possible. “There is a chance that a funnel cloud briefly touches the ground as a landspout tornado,” the bulletin said.
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