Another southern Alberta event cancelled due to cold and wet conditions

Another event in Southern Alberta has been cancelled due to weather concerns Saturday.

The annual Chestermere Water Festival was supposed to be held this weekend, but was cancelled because of low temperatures, wind and lightning.

Organizers say it was an extremely hard decision to make but determined that the risk to public safety was too high.

“Everything is outside – the music stage, beer gardens and of course the wakeboard competition. Thunderstorms would be unpleasant and dangerous for our guests,” Nancie Huneault, the City of Chestermere events planner, said.

The cancellation includes fireworks and other activities like wakeboarding.

“We are so disappointed to learn that the Water Festival needs to be cancelled this year,” Mayor Patricia Matthews of Chestermere stated in a news release. “While our entire community looks forward to this event, it is vitally important that no one is put at risk with the expected thunderstorms.”

READ MORE: Calgary has already exceeded average July rainfall totals

On Friday, Easter Seals Alberta announced the cancellation of the Banded Peak Challenge and Ridgeback Revenge due to severe weather conditions making the trails unsafe.

Organizers said they will attempt to reschedule the trail race to the fall if possible.

The Banded Peak Challenge is a back country fundraising adventure in Kananaskis Country that involves biking and hiking 16 km to the summit of Moose Mountain.

The cancellation is a financial blow to Easter Seals Alberta. Prior to 2013, the event raised over $80,000 annually towards lowering the costs of sending kids with disabilities to Easter Seals Camp Horizon.

Also on Friday, organizers of the Oxford Stomp cancelled their event that was planned for Fort Calgary, because of wet conditions.

According to their Twitter account, Oxford Stomp organizers say they will be contacting ticket holders regarding details about the cancellation.  They say all the food that was prepped for the event has been donated to the Calgary Drop In Centre.

The annual event which was to feature Don Henley, Serena Ryder and Matthew Good, also acts as a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Calgary.

Just after noon on Saturday, a woman on the northwest side of Airdrie reported watching what appeared to be a funnel cloud.

Wendy Bradbury captured the weather shots at Range Road 13 by Veterans Boulevard.

READ MORE: Severe weather watches and warnings blanket southern Alberta

Rainfall warnings were in effect for areas to the north and west of Calgary, while Calgary and many other areas are under a weather advisory that warns conditions will be favourable for the development of funnel clouds today.

That advisory went into effect at around 12:00 p.m. Saturday.