Hailstorm causes big damage in Claresholm as Environment Canada launches new alerts
Posted Aug 13, 2026 11:27 am.
Last Updated Aug 13, 2026 11:28 am.
A hailstorm in the Southern Alberta town of Claresholm left homes and vehicles battered Tuesday, just as Environment Canada rolled out its new emergency weather alert system.
Residents who spoke to CityNews a day after the storm described golf‑ball‑sized hail pounding the community.
Kathy Mann said the storm hit hard and fast, damaging the back of her home, smashing windows and tearing up siding.
“It was rather formidable,” she said, adding that hailstones “went way across the garage… halfway down the garage.”
Another couple, Gerald and Glenda McNair, were seen clearing debris from their property the day after the storm. They estimate repairs will cost around $15,000.
“Skylights, garage doors, the windows, around the windows, trim around the windows,” they said of the damage.
Both the McNairs and Mann credited emergency alerts for helping them act quickly. The hailstorm served as the first real‑world test of Environment Canada’s new tornado and thunderstorm alerts, which now use free‑form polygons instead of broad regional boundaries to better target affected areas.
“It alerted us for sure, all our vehicles moved into the garage,” the McNairs said.
Mann added the alert prompted her to also move her own vehicles inside.
It’s some consolation for Claresholm residents as many begin filing insurance claims.
