Thunderstorms with big hail eye Alberta today with the Calgary region at risk
Severe thunderstorms may pop up in some parts of Alberta on Thursday, with storms that could produce large hail around the Calgary region.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), thunderstorm outlooks from the Storm Prediction Centre show a severe thunderstorm risk in Alberta for Thursday, Aug. 20.
There is a moderate risk zone present in the province today, which includes a good stretch of the Foothills and areas such as Edson, Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere, Cochrane, High River, and Lethbridge.
Weather risks in that area include wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres an hour, with thunderstorms that could produce hail up to four centimetres in size, the equivalent of a ping pong ball. Rainfall totals of up to 30 millimetres may also be at play.
Areas outside of the moderate risk zone, including Banff National Park and Medicine Hat, are under a minor weather risk that may also see thunderstorms that could produce hail up to two centimetres in size, about the size equivalent of a penny, wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour, and rainfall totals up to 20 millimetres.
Another minor weather risk zone hugs northeastern portions of the province, including Cold Lake and Fort McMurray. Weather risks in that area include wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres an hour, with thunderstorms that could produce hail up to two centimetres in size, about the size of a penny. Rainfall totals of up to 25 millimetres may also occur.
ECCC Storm Prediction Centre
You can check for any current weather watches and warnings on the ECCC website, and view the full ECCC thunderstorm outlooks from the Storm Prediction Centre online.