People living in areas west and southwest of Edmonton were being advised to “take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches” on Wednesday afternoon as Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning and several watches because of a storm system moving through.
“At 3:37 p.m., Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to nickel-size hail and heavy rain,” the weather agency said on its website.
At around 4 p.m., the severe thunderstorm was reportedly located near Winfield and moving northeast at a speed of 30 km/h.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Drayton Valley, Devon, Rimbey and Pigeon Lake while a number of other areas were put under a severe thunderstorm watch.
At around 4:30 p.m., Slave Lake, Spruce Grove, Morinville, Mayerthorpe, Evansburg, Whitecourt, Edson, Fox Creek, and Swan Hills were also put under a warning.
The warning for Drayton Valley, Devon, Rimbey and Pigeon Lake was upgraded to a watch by about 5 p.m. Shortly before 5:30 p.m., warnings were dropped for Whitecourt, Edson, Fox Creek and Swan Hills, however, watches were still in place in those areas.
By 5:40 p.m., warnings were dropped for Spruce Grove, Morinville, Mayerthorpe and Evansburg although the areas remained under a watch.
Shortly after 7 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was in place for Slave Lake, Westlock, Barrhead and Athabasca but all other warnings and watches in the province had been dropped.
By 7:35 p.m., warnings were dropped for Slave Lake, Westlock, Barrhead and Athabasca while a new severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Wabasca, Peerless Lake, Gift Lake and Cadotte Lake.
By 10 p.m., all severe thunderstorm warnings across the province were dropped although some watches remained in effect.
To view a complete and updated list of areas under a watch or warning, click here.
Environment Canada said severe thunderstorms are capable of producing tornadoes and warned the public the severe weather could also produce large hail, destructive wind gusts and “torrential rainfall.”
To report severe weather, send an email to ec.storm.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ABStorm.
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The warnings and watches came as Edmonton hit the 30 C mark for the first time in 2017.
The last time Edmonton’s temperatures hit 30 C or more was on May 3, 2016.