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Calgary Stampede fireworks cancelled due to sudden windstorm

CALGARY- A sudden windstorm made for blustery conditions down at the Stampede grounds on Wednesday night, and even resulted in the cancellation of the nightly fireworks show.

The storm hit around 9 p.m. with little warning. Global News meteorologist Jordan Witzel says wind gusts were up to 60 km/h at ground level, and continued to be strong until 11 p.m.

“This came south from the severe thunderstorms in central Alberta earlier in the evening,” Witzel explains. “[Gusts] only diminished slightly past midnight, finally settling after 1 a.m.”

The windy conditions were dangerous enough for officials to make the tough call to cancel the fireworks show. They were concerned about shell casings and unfired gunpowder being blown onto the crowd, outside the ‘drop zone.’

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The fireworks display usually happens around 10:45 p.m., closing out the Grandstand show. Officials plan to do the show as expected on Thursday night, provided winds don’t exceed 40 km/h.

This weather app shows the windstorm that hit Calgary.
This weather app shows the windstorm that hit Calgary.

The Calgary Stampede isn’t letting those extra fireworks go to waste: they plan to make the next four shows 25 per cent bigger to burn the rest of them off.

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