Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm watches for much of Alberta on Thursday, including Calgary, Lethbridge and Edmonton.
The warnings, issued just before 11 a.m., suggest thunderstorms are likely to develop in the afternoon.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, damaging hail and heavy rain,” warned Environment Canada.
Shortly before 7 p.m. on Thursday, Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the city of Edmonton.
The Edmonton Eskimos tweeted that the team’s football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would be delayed because lightning could be seen near Commonwealth Stadium.
The weather agency said the thunderstorm was located 20 kilometres northwest of Edmonton and was moving to the east at 15 km/h.
A severe thunderstorm warning had also been issued for a number of other areas including the city of Calgary.
A Global News viewer took a photo of what appeared to be a funnel cloud hanging over the south Calgary neighbourhood of Heritage Pointe during the evening.
Around 8 p.m., Environment Canada downgraded the warnings for Calgary and Edmonton to a severe thunderstorm watch.
The agency cautioned people in areas under a severe thunderstorm warning to continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm@ec.gc.ca
Thunderstorms are capable of causing flash flooding, large hail and lightning and people were being asked to take cover if threatening weather approaches.
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.
Areas under a severe thunderstorm warning include:
Spruce Grove – Morinville – Mayerthorpe – Evansburg
Westlock – Barrhead – Athabasca
Whitecourt – Edson – Fox Creek – Swan Hills
Areas under a severe thunderstorm watch include:
Airdrie – Cochrane – Olds – Sundre
Brooks – Strathmore – Vulcan
Cardston – Fort Macleod – Magrath
City of Calgary
City of Edmonton – St. Albert – Sherwood Park
Drayton Valley – Devon – Rimbey – Pigeon Lake
Drumheller – Three Hills
Fort Saskatchewan – Vegreville – Redwater – Smoky Lake
Hanna – Coronation – Oyen
Leduc – Camrose – Wetaskiwin – Tofield
Lethbridge – Taber – Milk River
Lloydminster – Wainwright – Vermilion – Provost
Okotoks – High River – Claresholm
Red Deer – Ponoka – Innisfail – Stettler
Rocky Mountain House – Caroline
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Watch below: Time-lapse of a storm rolling through Calgary.
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