Alberta Tornado Warnings flag hail, 90+ km/h winds Tuesday

Alberta tornado warnings were not the main hazard Tuesday, but severe storms could still bring hail up to 4 centimetres and winds over 90 km/h across parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The risk covered Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon and Regina, with storms expected to start northwest of Calgary around midday.

Environment Canada said the strongest storms could produce large hail, heavy downpours and power outages as they moved from central Alberta toward southwestern Saskatchewan through the afternoon and evening. Storms were expected to progress southeasterly at 40 to 60 km/h.

Calgary and Red Deer

Severe storms were possible Tuesday in Calgary and Red Deer, where the forecast called for hail of 2 to 4 centimetres and strong winds of 90+ km/h in the most intense cells. The warning language from Environment Canada said, "This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches," and added, "Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris."

Medicine Hat and Saskatchewan

The weather risk extended beyond southern Alberta into Saskatchewan, with Medicine Hat, Saskatoon and Regina included in the list of cities facing the potential for severe thunderstorms. The forecast said storms would track from central Alberta toward southwestern Saskatchewan during the afternoon and evening, while the lowest one kilometre of the atmosphere was not supportive of tornadoes as a main hazard Tuesday.

For people in the warning area, the immediate step was to get inside before storms arrived and move to the lowest interior room if threatening weather approached. The forecast focused on hail and wind rather than tornadoes, so the practical concern Tuesday was protection from flying debris, damaged vehicles and buildings, and possible outages rather than a tornado threat.