By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings – Typical Evening in Southern Alberta

Jul 18, 2016 | 11:50 PM

LETHBRIDGE:   Beginning just before 5:00 Monday afternoon the different regions of Southern Alberta went through a rotating series of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings to Tornado Watches and full blown Tornado Warnings. At one point Alberta Emergency Alert broadcast Tornado Warnings for the deep south areas of Cardston, Milk River, Del Bonita, Writing-on-Stone, Coutts, Warner and the County of Warner.

While satellite tracking showed intense storms cells with patterns that had the ominous tell-tale signs of potential tornado activity, fortunately, by 11:00-pm there had been no twisters touching down and most “Warnings” had been lifted and replaced by “Watches”.

Although there were no tornadoes there was localized periods of intense rain and hail measuring from the size of a dime up to golf-ball size.  The Weather Network also reported some areas of Southern Alberta were reporting up to 40 lightning strikes per minute.