Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Calgary
Posted Jul 7, 2022 3:03 pm.
Last Updated Jul 7, 2022 7:10 pm.
It’s an afternoon to keep an eye on the sky with severe weather all across the region.
Environment Canada meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm that produced a tornado.
While Calgary is now only under a thunderstorm watch after being under a thunderstorm warning and tornado watch earlier Thursday afternoon, and areas north and south of the city including Sundre, Cochrane, Olds, Airdrie, Okotoks, High River and Claresholm were all under a tornado warning.
Damaging winds, large hail, and locally intense rainfall also resulted in the aftermath.
The emergency alert was issued earlier Thursday afternoon, with instructions on what to do if you are in that area.
People in the area were told to seek shelter immediately in a basement or reinforced structure.
“If you are in the affected area seek shelter immediately in the basement or reinforced structure, get low, and put as many walls between yourself and the storm as possible,” the alert reads.
People were also told to stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls, and to seek shelter in a ditch or ravine if they are on the highway and can’t avoid the tornado.
The storm did produce a tornado earlier and is located near the community of Shantz, Alberta, and very slowly moving east.
There are also some severe thunderstorm warnings west of Calgary, near Cochrane and Bragg Creek for a storm producing heavy, rain strong winds and potentially nickel-sized hail.
