Severe thunderstorms eye Alberta with risk of hail and strong winds
Some areas of Alberta could be under the threat of severe thunderstorms today, with the risk of hail and strong wind gusts.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), thunderstorm outlooks from the Storm Prediction Centre show large swathes of Alberta under the gun to potentially see some thunderstorm activity today, May 28.
The risk of some more developed thunderstorms shouldn’t be a surprise; we are just mere days away from kicking off June and the busy storm season.
The moderate weather risk is in two sections, one along the Foothills with wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour, hail up to 2.5 centimetres in size, and 40 millimetres of rain. The second moderate risk is in eastern Alberta and includes Lloydminster, with wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour, hail up to three centimetres in size, and the potential for 50 millimetres of rain.
The Edmonton region appears to be in the clear for today, while Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat could see storms with wind gusts up to 70 kilometres an hour and hail up to two centimetres in size.
ECCC Storm Prediction Centre
The risk of thunderstorm activity doesn’t end after today, with the potential of another round of less potent storms bringing wind gusts up to 70 kilometres an hour, hail in the one to two centimetre range, and 20 to 30 millimetres of rain to areas like Edmonton, Red Deer, Lloydminster, and Edson.
A separate area meteorologists highlight for potential thunderstorm activity tomorrow includes Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and Banff National Park. Those hazards include wind gusts up to 70 kilometres an hour, and hail in the one to two centimetre range.
ECCC Storm Prediction Centre
You can check for any current watches and warnings on the ECCC website.