UPDATE: As of 11 p.m. on Monday, all public weather alerts had ended.
Environment Canada issued tornado watches and warnings and severe thunderstorm watches for much of central and southern Alberta on Monday.
“These thunderstorms are expected to begin early this evening along the foothills and will move to the east as the evening progresses,” Environment Canada said. “The potential for a tornado will continue late this evening and for several hours after the sun goes down.”
The tornado watches were issued mid-afternoon Wednesday, including one for Lethbridge. Severe thunderstorm watches, including one for Calgary, began just before 11 a.m. That watch was upgraded to a warning at 6:45 p.m. Later in the evening the warning was once again downgraded to a watch.
By 9 p.m. Monday evening, Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Foremost, Lethbridge, Taber and Milk River.
By 10:40 p.m., all tornado warnings were dropped although several tornado watches remained in place across southern Alberta.
“Storms that develop have a high likelihood becoming severe giving large hail, strong winds and heavy rain,” Environment Canada warned.
Meanwhile, thunderstorms are also forecast to develop along the Foothills northwest of Calgary.
“A few of these thunderstorms could become severe giving large hail and heavy rain,” Environment Canada said.
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce large hail, damaging winds or torrential rainfall.
In the case a tornado does develop, officials advise going indoors to the lowest floor in a secure, strong building and away from outside walls and windows.
Areas listed in the tornado watch include:
Brooks – Strathmore – Vulcan
Lethbridge – Taber – Milk River
Cardston – Fort Macleod – Magrath
Crowsnest Pass – Pincher Creek – Waterton Lakes Nat. Park
Okotoks – High River – Claresholm
Areas listed in the severe thunderstorm warning include:
Cardston – Fort Macleod – Magrath
Cypress Hills Provincial Park – Foremost
Lethbridge – Taber – Milk River
Hanna – Coronation – Oyen
Medicine Hat – Bow Island – Suffield
Rocky Mountain House – Caroline
Areas listed in the severe thunderstorm watch include:
Airdrie – Cochrane – Olds – Sundre
City of Calgary
Cypress Hills Provincial Park – Foremost
Drayton Valley – Devon – Rimbey – Pigeon Lake
Drumheller – Three Hills
Kananaskis – Canmore
Hanna – Coronation – Oyen
Nordegg – Forestry Trunk Road Highway 734
Medicine Hat – Bow Island – Suffield
Red Deer – Ponoka – Innisfail – Stettler
Rocky Mountain House – Caroline
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