A severe thunderstorm on Wednesday night downed power lines, damaged a number of cars and caused power outages in southern Alberta.
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Wednesday just after 5 p.m. for south-central Alberta, informing the public that meteorologists were tracking a dangerous thunderstorm capable of producing baseball-sized hail, damaging wind and heavy rain.
The storm was located, at that time, west of Brooks, Alta., and heading east at 80 km/h, Environment Canada said. As the storm travelled southeast, Environment Canada’s thunderstorm warnings were directed at areas in and around Vulcan County and the County of Newell in southeastern Alberta.
Downed power lines and damaged cars, leading to some road closures, were reported by RCMP around Brooks, Alta. on Wednesday evening. (Submitted by Quin Herter)
The storm travelled over Brooks around 5:30 p.m., which RCMP said resulted in downed power lines, road closures and disabled cars on the road in the area.
Just after 7 p.m., RCMP said east and westbound lanes of Highway 36 at Highway 1 were not passable. Police also asked drivers not to travel south on Highway 36 to Highway 1 as it was also not passable. Police added that drivers in the area should check 511 Alberta for updates about road closures.
After Brooks, the storm moved southeast toward the Saskatchewan border, with Environment Canada issuing a warning for Cypress County in Alberta, as well.
Fortis Alberta said Wednesday evening that its crews were responding to a number of power outages in the southern parts of its service territory due to the storm.
