Severe thunderstorm watch in effect, golf-ball sized hail a possibility

And we thought it was supposed to be summer…

Environment Canada has just issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the City of Calgary thanks to a “warm and unstable” airmass.

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Large hail, heavy rain, and strong winds are all possibilities as thunderstorms increase along the foothills this afternoon, which are then expected to head east throughout the evening.

“The initial thunderstorms will have hail to the size of golf balls as the main threat. As the afternoon wears on, wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h will be the main threat,” the Environment Canada release states.

It is recommended to stay inside during the storm, as hail and wind can damage buildings, break tree branches, and even overturn vehicles.

Be on the lookout for flash floods and large poolings of water on roads. Lightning is always a possible danger during thunderstorms.

The watch was issued at 12:32 pm this afternoon and will remain in place until the storms subside.

The severe thunderstorm watch is also in effect for other regions of Alberta, including Drumheller,  Hanna, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Okotoks, Airdrie, and Brooks.

The storm is expected to move into Saskatchewan by this evening.

Anyone looking to report severe weather in their area can email [email protected] or tweet using the #ABStorm hashtag.