Thunderstorm warning issued near Sundre, with central and southern Alberta under storm watch
CBC
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Mountain View County near Sundre on Thursday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect for a large swath of central and southern Alberta.
At 1:45 p.m., meteorologists said they were tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, nickel to ping-pong ball size hail and heavy rain.
A warning was also subsequently issued for areas north of Mountain View County, in Yellowhead County, near Minnow and Wolf Lakes and Elk River.
Just after 2 p.m., a thunderstorm warning was issued for the area near Del Bonita and Kimball in Cardston County, located in southern Alberta.
Earlier in the day, the agency issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several other regions of the province (see below).
It says conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms, which may be capable of producing high winds, damaging hail and heavy rain.
Severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes, it said.
"Thunderstorms are expected over much of southern and central Alberta today," Environment Canada said on its website as of 10:27 a.m. on Thursday.
"Some of these thunderstorms will become severe."
The agency warned that very large hail can damage property, break windows, dent vehicles and cause serious injury.
It also said very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road.
If people hear thunder, they should head indoors, the agency said, to avoid lightning strikes nearby.
Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm watches for the following regions:
Kyle Brittain, the Alberta bureau chief for the Weather Network, said the province is getting into peak tornado season, which tends to run through the month of July.