A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for parts of southern Alberta after an Alberta Emergency Alert for very large hail was issued on Monday evening.
As of just after 9 p.m., the agency said the thunderstorm was located in Cheadle and Strathmore, Alta., and was heading to the east at 50 km/h.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was also originally issued at 7:57 p.m. on Monday. An 8:58 p.m. update to the alert noted that "extra care and attention" should be exercised in the areas of Blackie, Arrowhead, Milo, Vulcan, Carmangay and Lomond.
The emergency alert is in effect for the following areas:
"This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation," reads Environment Canada's website.
"Extremely large hail can smash windows, destroy property and vehicles and cause life-threatening injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles."
The agency advises people to seek shelter whenever there is dangerous weather.
In an email statement to CBC News sent Monday night, a spokesperson for the Calgary Airport Authority confirmed that a YYC Calgary International Airport terminal building had been damaged by hail and heavy rainfall.
"We are prioritizing the safety of all guests and staff and clearing the impacted area. We are currently assessing the damage and its impact to operations," reads the statement.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Mountain View and Red Deer Counties
“Thunderstorms have developed in the Alberta foothills. Some of these thunderstorms will likely become severe, with the potential for very strong wind gusts and large hail,” Environment Climate Change Canada’s Aug. 5 alert at 5:21 p.m. states.
Conditions for a Severe Thunderstorm Watch
A watch is issued when conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms with one or more of the following conditions:
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wind gusts of 90 kilometres an hour (km/h) or greater, which could cause structural wind damage;
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Hail of two centimetres (cm) or larger in diameter; or
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Heavy rainfall.
“The severe thunderstorm watch will likely be expanded east as the situation develops, the federal agency said in the alert.
The watch is in effect for:
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Mountain View County near Cremona, Water Valley, Carstairs, Olds, Didsbury and Sundre:
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Red Deer County near Spruce View, Red Lodge Provincial Park, Elnora, Lousana, Delburne, Penhold, Innisfail, Bowden, Pine Lake and Sylvan Lake.
Calgary Under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch
A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for Calgary just before noon Monday by Environment Canada and Climate Change. (ECCC).
The watch advised that a tornado watch may be added later this afternoon.
“Thunderstorms will develop in the Alberta foothills this afternoon," it said. "Some of these thunderstorms may become severe this afternoon. There is potential for very strong wind gusts and large hail with some of these thunderstorms. The severe thunderstorm watch will likely be expanded east as the situation develops.
“Tornado watches may be required if the conditions become favourable this afternoon.”
The watch is in effect for the City of Calgary.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
A Stormy Weekend in Alberta
The Calcite Creek fire, burning near the eastern edge of Manning Park, produced a pyrocumulonimbus cloud Sunday afternoon which generated thunder and lightning strikes.
A storm wreaked havoc in Edmonton and the surrounding area Sunday evening.
A Hailstorm Pummels Calgary Airport
The Calgary Airport Authority confirmed that a YYC Calgary International Airport terminal building had been damaged by hail and heavy rainfall.
