Hail the size of softballs fell from the sky Monday as a storm ripped through central and southern Alberta.
Vehicles had pulled off the Queen Elizabeth II Highway on Monday evening between Calgary and Red Deer to wait out a hail storm that had damaged many cars.
According to the RCMP, 70 vehicles had their windshields and windows smashed out by the storm.
First responders from Innisfail had set up a triage station for those who need help, RCMP told Global News.
One man who pulled over to the shoulder of the highway once the hail started slamming down, said he’d never experienced anything like it.
“It looked huge,” Spencer said. “It seemed it was just the rain and then all sudden — boom — it started coming. First I thought maybe I can get through that but right away a good chunk to the windshield was gone. So I pulled over.
“It went on for quite a while. You sort of hope that (the windshield) keeps its integrity and doesn’t come right through and you just get sort of rained on by those little shards of glass. I wasn’t very comfortable, I’ll say that.”
Spencer said he was nervous he might get injured.
“I don’t think I’d say I feared for my life. But I half expected the glass to come through and then the actual hail to start getting to me.”
Both north- and southbound lanes were impacted, however there were no road closures as of Monday at 9 p.m.
All weather alerts were dropped by 7:30 p.m.
Late July and early August are typically active weather times for Alberta. The province has seen several severe weather alerts — including tornado watches and warnings — all long weekend.