STORMY WEATHER
Calgary’s downtown skyline is seen from Nose Hill Park as heavy storm clouds move in Thursday. Thunderstorm and tornado warnings were issued for the region.
Calgary was under a tornado warning Thursday afternoon after Environment Canada reported a funnel cloud had been spotted near Springbank.
The warning was first issued by Environment Canada for Calgary and Rocky View County near Cochrane, Bragg Creek and the Tsuut’ina Reservation at 2:36 p.m.
Environment Canada said an eyewitness reported a possible tornado near Springbank heading eastward at 2:30 p.m.
“This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation,” Environment Canada said.
The weather agency recommended people go to a room on the lowest floor away from walls and windows and to leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers or other temporary or free-standing shelters to move to stronger buildings.
Social media users posted videos and photos of spiralling clouds west of the city near the Transcanada highway.
The warning eventually ended for Calgary at 3:15 p.m. as the storm passed through the city. Tennis ball-sized hail was spotted near Springbank, while quarter- and nickel-sized hail and heavy rain hit parts of the inner city.
City of Calgary traffic cameras captured motorists on Crowchild and Deerfoot trails trying to protect their cars from hail underneath overpasses.
“Please do not block the roads under overpasses,” Calgary police Const. Chris Martin tweeted. “It is illegal to obstruct the flow of traffic, more importantly it is dangerous as it creates a risk of collision, strands others in the path of the storm & blocks 1st responders.”
Water pooled on Deerfoot Trail near Mcknight Boulevard, causing traffic snarls in the afternoon as the storm moved eastward.
The severe weather alerts started at 1:46 p.m., when Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch, saying that conditions were favourable for the formation of thunderstorms that could produce strong wind gusts, hail and heavy rain. The watch was later upgraded to a warning at 2:11 p.m., followed by the emergency alert for the tornado warning at 2:36 p.m.
Communities surrounding Calgary to the north, south and east were also under a combination of severe thunderstorm and heat warnings.
SECOND WARNING THIS MONTH
This is the second time so far this month that Calgary has been under a tornado warning. A brief tornado warning was issued for the city of Calgary on July 6. The alert lasted less than 20 minutes but produced spectacular clouds over the northeastern portion of the city.