A powerful storm ripped through Edmonton and surrounding areas on Friday night, hammering parts of the area with large hail and plenty of rain.
Environment Canada issued a tornado watch for Edmonton and several surrounding areas at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms which may produce tornadoes,” the weather agency said. “Severe thunderstorms continue to develop in central Alberta.
“Some of these storms may have the potential to produce a tornado.”
Environment Canada called it a “dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.”
“Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches,” the weather agency said.
The tornado watch for Edmonton was lifted shortly before 9 p.m. but remained in effect for areas to the north and to the south of the city. All tornado watches across the province were lifted by 10:30 p.m.
Watch below: Heavy hail and rain was seen throughout Edmonton and surrounding areas on Friday night.
Watch below; Some Global News videos about tornadoes.
Shortly before 7 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was issued for Edmonton and surrounding areas. The warning was lifted shortly before 9 p.m.
Parts of northern and central Alberta were under a severe thunderstorm warning as of 6:15 p.m. on Friday as Environment Canada warned people in affected areas to be prepared for the possibility of some turbulent weather.
Watch below: Jesse Beyer’s Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 weather forecast for Edmonton and surrounding areas, live from the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose at about 6:20 p.m.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, the weather agency issued severe thunderstorm warnings to parts of southern Alberta.
“Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts and pea- to dime-sized hail,” Environment Canada said on its website, after a warning was issued for areas in southern Alberta shortly before 3 p.m.
Watch below: Hail pelted the Edmonton region on Friday night as a storm system moved through the area.
By 6:15 p.m., all severe thunderstorm warnings in southern Alberta had been lifted, however, a number of warnings issued in central and northern parts of the province remained in effect as of 10:30 p.m.
Watch below: (From July 31, 2019) Just after Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for Red Deer County near Sylvan Lake, a funnel cloud formation was spotted from the south side of Sylvan Lake at 9 p.m. Courtesy: Clayton Beniuk and Sean Schofer.
For a complete list of areas in Alberta that have been issued a weather alert, click here.
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Photos from Friday night’s storm in and around the Edmonton area on Friday night can be viewed in the gallery below.
Watch below: (From Aug. 1, 2019) The Big Valley Jamboree gets underway on Thursday. Fletcher Kent looks at how the festival is happening during a rainy summer in Alberta.