MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Mountain View County and nearby urban centres Sunday, along with other Alberta locales including the West Country.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to develop along the Foothills this afternoon and evening and will move the southeast. These thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging hail, heavy rain and strong wind gusts,” the federal agency’s 11:47 a.m. July 13 weather alert for the area said.
The federal agency included the following areas in the watch:
• Mountain View County near Sudre, Cremona, Water Valley, Carstairs, Didsbury and Olds;
• Clearwater County near James River Bridge, Caroline, Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, Crimson Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Nordegg, Big Horn Res., Chungo Creek
• Rocky View County near Airdrie, Crossfield, Bottrel, Madden, Bragg Creek, Tsuu T’ina Res., Chestermere, Dalroy, Dalemead and Cochrane.
Environment and Climate Change Canada also issued a heat warning Sunday for Rocky View County near Chestermere, Dalroy and Dalemead.
According to the federal agency, severe thunderstorm watches are issued when conditions are favourable for the development of one or more of the following conditions:
• wind gusts of 90 kilometres an hour (km/h) or greater, which could cause structural wind damage;
• hail of 2.5 centimetres (cm) or larger in diameter; or
• heavy rainfall.
“Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging hail, wind or rain,” the alert concluded. “Remember that severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes. When thunder roars, go indoors! Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. “
