Severe thunderstorms hit Calgary and area Saturday night

Rain, thunder, lightning and hail were all factors in a spring storm that tore through parts of central and southern Alberta Saturday night.

Areas northwest of Calgary were placed under a severe thunderstorm watch in the late afternoon as Environment Canada meteorologists tracked a system that was moving in a southeasterly direction.

Environment Canada declared Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Olds and Sundre under a warning at 7:30 p.m.

The agency said the storm might produce strong wind gusts, up to toonie-sized hail and heavy rain.

The storm was about 20 kilometres northwest of downtown Calgary at the time of the warning, heading in a southeast direction at 35 km/h, according to the weather agency.

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All thunderstorm warnings in the province were dropped around 8:30 p.m., although there was an extensive severe thunderstorm watch in place until just after 11 p.m.

Monitor the latest weather warnings with Environment Canada.