The Canadian agency for Environment and Climate Change (ECCC) has recently withdrawn a tornado alert in the vicinity of Okotoks, a town situated to the south of Calgary, Alberta. The warning, which was initially issued at 2:53 p.m., had impacted areas such as Brown-Lowery Park, Okotoks, Diamond Valley, and High River.
Residents of Okotoks witnessed hailstones the size of a Loonie on Monday afternoon, indicative of the severe weather conditions. The ECCC also flagged a severe thunderstorm warning for Calgary and the surrounding territories of Rocky View County, including the town of Cochrane on Tuesday.
As per the alert disseminated on Monday afternoon, weather experts have been monitoring a series of severe thunderstorms. These storms have the potential to generate powerful wind gusts, hailstones ranging from the size of a nickel to a ping pong ball, and substantial rainfall.
At approximately 3:23 p.m., the ECCC reported that the thunderstorm line extended from Prentiss to a location just northwest of Blackie, moving eastwards at a speed of 40 km/h.
Power disruptions were reported by Fortis Alberta, affecting hundreds of residents in Cochrane between 2:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. A significant power outage also impacted over 1,700 individuals in Airdrie, a city located north of Calgary, around 3 p.m.
The severe thunderstorm warning for Rocky View County was rescinded around 3:25 p.m., and the alert for Calgary was lifted approximately 20 minutes later, at 3:45 p.m.
Keywords: Environment and Climate Change Canada, tornado warning, Okotoks, Calgary, Alberta, severe thunderstorms, hail, Rocky View County, Cochrane, power outages, Fortis Alberta, Airdrie.