By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter) with files from The Canadian Press

New wind warning issued after blustery day of wildfires, power outages

Oct 18, 2017 | 6:45 AM

LETHBRIDGE – A new wind warning was issued early Wednesday, Oct. 18 as southern Alberta prepared for another blustery day.

It follows a day of powerful wind gusts that fanned the flames of wildfires, and caused power outages and other damage. The top wind gust reported in Alberta was 141 km/h at the Waterton Dam. Lethbridge saw a top gust of 113 km/h.

Environment Canada said the cause was an intense low pressure system, accompanied by a strong cold front. The system produced thunderstorms in some areas.

In addition to the wildfires that moved quickly in and near Lethbridge, in the Crowsnest Pass, near Calgary, and in eastern Alberta, the wind may have also caused two train derailments in east-central Alberta. RCMP said five freight cars were blown right off a trestle near Wainwright into the valley beneath.

Fortis Alberta was still reporting outages in a number of areas, including more than 2,100 customers in the Crowsnest Pass.

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The new wind warning covers the areas of Cardston, Fort Macleod, the Blood Reserve, Claresholm, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Piikani Nation, Waterton, and surrounding areas. Wind gusts in those areas may reach 110 km/h Wednesday. Other areas north of Lethbridge are under an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke.

Over the course of Tuesday, Oct. 17 Environment Canada recorded the following peak wind gusts (in km/h):

• ACADIA VALLEY: 126
• ALLIANCE: 107
• ATLEE: 119
• AZURE: 91
• BARNWELL: 124
• BASSANO: 104
• BEISEKER: 93
• BELLSHILL: 113
• BLACK DIAMOND: 96
• BLOOD TRIBE: 111
• BODO: 107
• BOW ISLAND: 98
• BROCKET: 109
• BROOKS: 96
• BUFFALO: 117
• BULL SPRINGS: 119
• CADOGAN: 109
• CALGARY: 93
• PRIDDIS OBSERVATORY CALGARY: 115
• CARDSTON: 87
• CARWAY: 115
• CABIN LAKE: 85
• CARROT CREEK: 93
• CHAMPION: 100
• CONSORT: 111
• CORONATION: 106
• CROWSNEST: 102
• CLARESHOLM: 100
• CRESTOMERE: 106
• DEL BONITA: 115
• DRUMHELLER EAST: 83
• EDSON: 85
• EDMONTON BLATCHFORD: 80
• EDMONTON INTL: 81
• EDMONTON SOUTH CAMPUS: 91
• ENCHANT : 107
• ESTHER: 98
• FINNEGAN: 94
• FINCASTLE: 106
• FOREMOST: 102
• FORESTBURG: 111
• FORT MACLEOD: 109
• GILT EDGE NORTH: 111
• GLEICHEN: 104
• GOOSEBERRY LAKE: 122
• GRASSY LAKE: 111
• HAND HILLS: 122
• HESPERO: 83
• HEMARUKA: 115
• HOLDEN: 102
• HUSSAR: 100
• IRON SPRINGS: 109
• IRVINE: 119
• KEOMA: 96
• KILLAM: 115
• KINIKINIK: 93
• KINSELLA RESEARCH STATION: 91
• LACOMBE: 87
• LETHBRIDGE: 113
• LINDEN: 93
• LLOYDMINSTER: 87
• LODGE CREEK: 100
• MASINASIN: 113
• MEDICINE HAT: 102
• MILK RIVER: 104
• MORRIN: 107
• MOSSLEIGH: 109
• NIER: 98
• OLDS: 85
• ONEFOUR: 111
• OYEN: 107
• QUEENSTOWN: 119
• PATRICIA : 133
• PINCHER CREEK: 107
• POLLOCKVILLE: 111
• PRENTISS: 104
• RAINIER: 108
• RALSTON: 130
• RAYMOND: 104
• RED DEER: 100
• ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE: 81
• ROSEMARY: 96
• SCHULER: 135
• SEVEN PERSONS: 126
• SHEERNESS: 102
• SOCIAL PLAINS: 117
• STANDARD: 94
• ST ALBERT RESEARCH STATION: 87
• ST FRANCIS: 102
• STAVELY: 115
• STRATHMORE: 96
• STETTLER: 100
• TIDE LAKE: 117
• TWO HILLS: 89
• VEGREVILLE: 85
• VAUXHALL: 102
• WATERTON PARK GATE: 113
• WATERTON DAM: 141
• WRENTHAM: 102