The development of thunderstorms over the foothills caused Environment Canada to issue a thunderstorm watch July 12 for much of central Alberta, including Ponoka and Bashaw.
These thunderstorms will move east and northeast, states a release.
“Some of these thunderstorms will have the potential to produce hail to the size of golf balls and wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h.”
Environment Canada advises monitoring the situation as very large hail can damage property, break windows, dent vehicles and cause serious injury.
“Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.”
Other concerns are over lightning, which kills and injures Canadians every year. “Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!”
These watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms. The potential for large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall are all possibilities.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.storm.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ABStorm.
The watch affects these communities:
Camrose Co. near Bashaw and Meeting Creek
City of Red Deer
Co. of Paintearth near Halkirk and Big Knife Prov. Park
Co. of Stettler near Big Valley
Co. of Stettler near Botha and Gadsby
Co. of Stettler near Byemoor and Endiang
Co. of Stettler near Donalda
Co. of Stettler near Stettler Nevis and Rochon Sands
Flagstaff Co. near Forestburg and Galahad
Lacombe Co. near Clive Alix and Mirror
Lacombe Co. near Eckville
Lacombe Co. near Lacombe Blackfalds and Bentley
Ponoka Co. near Ponoka and Maskwacis
Red Deer Co. near Elnora Lousana and Delburne
Red Deer Co. near Penhold Innisfail and Bowden
Red Deer Co. near Pine Lake
Red Deer Co. near Spruce View and Red Lodge Prov. Park
Red Deer Co. near Sylvan Lake and Stephansson House