WATCH ABOVE: A selection of video showing hail hitting Calgary and surrounding areas on Wednesday afternoon.
CALGARY – One day after an intense summer storm pummeled the city causing flash flooding and wide-spread power outages, Calgarians were hit with yet another storm, and surrounding areas in southern Alberta were under tornado warnings Wednesday night.
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The City of Calgary activated its Municipal Emergency Plan as of 3:03 p.m. which included the opening of the Emergency Operations Centre. Extra city crews were dispatched to respond to storm damage.
Just before 8 p.m., the Municipal Emergency Plan was deactivated and the Emergency Operations Centre was closed.
The City of Calgary said between 2:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., 911 answered 800 emergency and non-emergency calls.
Between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., 311 received 813 calls, most of which were for catch basins, manholes, trees and basement seepage.
The following roads and underpasses were closed because of flooding as of 7:00 p.m.:
- Southbound 5 Street underpass between 9 and 10 Avenue S.W.
Calgary Transit routes affected by flooding as of 7:15 p.m. included:
- Routes 3, 17 are on detour around 5 Street S.W. underpass
The City of Calgary expects all roads and transit routes to return to normal operation before the Thursday morning commute.
Tornado warnings were issued for areas in Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan as well as Drumheller and Three Hills at 4:25 p.m. The warning was dropped for the Drumheller and Three Hills areas just before 5:30 p.m. and ended for Brooks, Strathmore and Vulcan at 5:31 p.m.
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Environment Canada said a storm spotter reported a tornado northeast of Langdon at 3:55 p.m.
“Since then, no further reports have been received but the storm remains capable of producing a tornado. This storm has also given golfball size hail,” said the agency in a statement.
READ MORE: What to do during a tornado warning
Environment Canada reminds people to stay indoors in a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows. The organization says to leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if possible.
“As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.”
For a full list of Alberta weather alerts, click here
The emergency plan alert in Calgary reminded citizens to:
- Stay indoors
- Stay away from manhole covers, drains and flooded areas
- Avoid driving through flooded areas such as underpasses
- Avoid storm water ponds, storm drains
- Call 311 to report basement seepage or overland flooding
- Call 911 for emergencies
- Monitor local media and City of Calgary messages
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Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Calgary just after 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The watch was upgraded to a warning at 12:56 p.m. All of the severe weather warnings and watches in Alberta were dropped by 10 p.m.
The organization forecasted a severe storm in the afternoon, with very strong wind gusts, quarter to toonie-sized hail and heavy rain.
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Hail could be seen in the Global Calgary parking lot just after 3:30 p.m.:
Global viewer Nadia Esmail submitted a photo showing the size of hail in northeast Calgary:
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Environment Canada said a severe thunderstorm had initiated west of Bragg Creek and was moving eastward at 30 km/h just before 1 p.m.
“Be prepared for severe weather. Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches,” warned a news release.
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Difference between a special weather statement, a severe thunderstorm watch and a severe thunderstorm warning
Environment Canada issues a special weather statement when there is potential for an event that may approach the warning or watch criteria.
A severe thunderstorm watch is issued when there is a good chance of severe weather developing.
A severe thunderstorm warning has four elements: winds greater than 90 km/h; hail greater than 2 cm; flooding rains; or a tornado.
To get real-time weather for your area, download the Global News Skytracker weather app.
With files from Melissa Ramsay, Caley Ramsay.
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