Environment Canada has ended the wind warnings for the city of Calgary and much of the southwestern corner of the province.
The warnings were dropped as of 3:41 p.m. for Calgary and area. Warnings remain in place for Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan, Medicine Hat, Bow Island and Suffield as of 4:00 p.m.
The windiest area of the province all day was around Calgary, although we were one of the last regions to be added to the warning.
Global News began hearing reports of debris being blown off buildings in downtown Calgary just after 1:00 p.m.
Trees were downed in at least one northwest Calgary neighborhood, and a roof on a building in the northeast was lifted by the strong gusts.
At one point there were so many tumbleweeds blowing through the airport tunnel that the city had to close the road down.
The Calgary Fire Department, and the city of Calgary had to work to clear the debris so that the road was passable.
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for some of the province early Thursday morning.
It covered the southwest corner of Alberta: from Crowsnest Pass to Okotoks, Claresholm and High River.
As of 1:15 p.m. the unofficial peak wind gusts recorded in that area were 79 km/h.
A wind warning is issued by Environment Canada when gusts of at least 100 km/h are anticipated in that particular region.
Calgary unofficially recorded wind gusts of 91 km/h at the international airport and gusts of 85 km/h at COP just after 1:00 p.m. Thursday, which technically could have placed the city under a wind warning. The threshold for Calgary is a sustained wind of 70 km/h and/or wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h. The secondary criteria according to Environment Canada’s website is, “A warning issued by Environment Canada’s Meteorological Service (MSC) for sustained winds of speeds that pose a significant threat to public safety and property.”
As of 1:30 p.m., no warning had been issued for the City of Calgary, but the warning was extended east to include Brooks, Strathmore, Vulcan, Medicine Hat, Bow Island, and Suffield.
By 1:59 p.m. Environment Canada added Calgary into the warnings for the area, anticipating further gusts in excess of 90 km/h.