Thunderstorms with large hail a risk for much of Alberta on Wednesday
Some heavily populated areas of Alberta are under the threat of seeing large hail on Wednesday, with the risk of severe thunderstorms on the table.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), thunderstorm outlooks from the Storm Prediction Centre say that Wednesday, Aug. 20, is shaping up to see the chance of thunderstorms in Alberta’s three largest cities and their surrounding areas.
Forecasters note that showers with thunderstorms continue this morning with the upper
low over northern B.C. and strong southwesterly flow across the province.
“A low over eastern Montana will make it’s way into southern Saskatchewan
by this afternoon. With these two frontal waves, thunderstorm activity
will be quite widespread,” the outlook stated, mentioning that the highest instability is forecast over southern and east-central regions of Alberta this afternoon.
The moderate-risk zone wraps around a big portion of the province, including Calgary, the Edmonton region, Red Deer, Lloydminster, and almost out west to Hinton and south to Lethbridge. Hazards in this area include wind gusts of up to 90 km/h, rainfall up to 40 millimetres, and hail up to four centimetres in size.
A minor risk zone is also present in large sections of Alberta, with an area stretching from the northern border with the Northwest Territories down to the southern border with Montana at play. That minor risk zone has the potential of seeing thunderstorms with wind gusts of up to 80 km/h, up to 25 millimetres of rainfall, and hail up to two centimetres in size.
ECCC Storm Prediction Centre Edmonton
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Looking at the seven-day forecast for Calgary and Edmonton, the chance of thunderstorms and showers are present tomorrow before a lengthy blast of heat moves in. Hopefully it stays that way as we inch closer to September long weekend!
Calgary
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Edmonton
Environment and Climate Change Canada
You can view the full ECCC thunderstorm outlook online.