Damage is widespread from the community of Readymade, east of Lethbridge to Paradise Canyon on the city’s west side.
The south side was also hit hard, residents say their homes and vehicles suffered some of the worst damage they’ve ever seen at the hands of mother nature.
Hurricane like winds gusting to over 130 kilometers an hour throwing debris around neighborhoods, driving hail into windows and siding; snapping over trees and leaving piles of hail on streets.
Residents on the south side near Henderson Lake couldn’t believe the damage left behind from the storm, most of them thinking the worst.
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“The clouds were swirling, the hail was so loud. I was in the basement for ten minutes and i cam up and my tree was on the boulevard, i think it was hit by lightening because it has a big scorch mark,” says south side resident Lynn Goughnour.
Some homes had large chunks of roof ripped off, and trailers toppled over.
Bobbi Westwood and her son Darian were at home when the storm rolled in. They watched a trailer roll from the neighbors driveway, onto their property.
“We looked outside and my son wanted to take some video and all of a sudden the neighbors trailer rolled from their driveway onto our lawn, so when we came out it was just sitting here.”
Businesses were hit hard too, roofs were damaged and shopping cart covers tossed over.
Superstore had to open late due to the damage, and has lost it’s garden centre.
Residents say it’s not the size of the hail that caused so much damage, but the speed it was hitting homes. Siding was nearly shredded off homes.
“We looked out the window and it looked like snow, it was just terrible. The hail destroyed the neighbors. This is the fifth time we have had hail this year,” says John Machieslse.
Fortunately no one suffered serious injuries during the storm.
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