Alberta forecast to see thunderstorms with big hail and a tornado risk
Some areas of Alberta could be under the threat of severe thunderstorms on Friday, with the risk of large hail and tornado potential forecast.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), thunderstorm outlooks from the Storm Prediction Centre show large swaths of Alberta under the gun to potentially see some strong thunderstorm activity today, June 5.
The most potent risk includes the Edmonton region down to Red Deer, and east central Alberta, including all the way to Lloydminster and Cold Lake.
The moderate weather risk for that region outlines that wind gusts of 70 to 90 kilometres an hour may occur, with thunderstorms that could bring hail up to five centimetres in size, the equivalent of a hen egg, along with a tornado risk being present. Rainfall totals of 25 to 35 millimetres are also at play.
ECCC Storm Prediction Centre
ECCC issued severe thunderstorm watches Friday morning for large swaths of the moderate zone pegged in the thunderstorm outlook, with meteorologists noting that conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms beginning late this morning.
These thunderstorms may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain, and thunderstorms will persist into the evening.
Other areas of the province, including Calgary, Edson, and portions of northern Alberta, are also under the gun to potentially see thunderstorms that could produce wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres an hour and hail in the one to two centimetres range.
The risk of thunderstorm activity doesn’t end after today, with the potential of another round of less potent storms producing wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres an hour in west central Alberta and hail in the two to three centimetres range on Saturday, June 6. Rainfall totals up to 30 millimetres may also materialize.
Other areas of the province, including Edmonton, Calgary, Edson, Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, and Grande Prairie, may see wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres an hour and hail in the one to two centimetres range if a thunderstorm appears.
ECCC Storm Prediction Centre
You can check for any current watches and warnings on the ECCC website.