Funnel cloud near Taber. (Photo supplied by Tara Fritschy)

By David Opinko

Environment Canada releases info on Southern Alberta tornados, heavy hail, rain, wind

Jun 15, 2020 | 10:59 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Southern Alberta was ravaged by a wide array of intense weather Saturday night.

“Southern regions were hit from approximately 5-11 pm MDT, causing flooding, power outages, and bringing very large hail to some communities, including Calgary. Several possible tornadoes were also reported,” reads a report from Environment Canada.

Meteorologist Alysa Pederson says, at this stage, they have not verified if any of the three possible tornados touched the ground.

Funnel clouds were reported southeast of Calgary around 7:00 pm Saturday, near McNab at about 7:30 pm, and near Chin Lakes/Barnwell/Taber at approximately 8:00 pm.

While Environment Canada has reviewed some reports on this weekend’s severe weather, they are encouraging members of the public to still do so.

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“We have received some reports, but the ones we don’t get from spotters are things like damage or reports, say, if a tornado did go through someone’s property. That key information is really useful to determine what exactly happened.”

Reports can be submitted by calling 1-800-239-0484, by email to ec.storm@canada.ca, or by using the hashtag #abstorm on Twitter.

Intense hail was reported in numerous communities in the region. Below are the estimated amounts of hail by millimetres:

• Duchess: 100 – Grapefruit
• NE Calgary: 54 to 61 – Bigger than hen egg to tennis ball
• Calgary: 21 to 24 – Widespread nickel to quarter
• Linden: 50 – Hen egg
• Barnwell: 45 – Golf ball
• Elnora: 45 – Golf ball
• Balzac: 38 – Walnut/ping pong
• Huxley: 38 – Walnut/ping pong
• Milo: 38 – Walnut/ping pong
• Hanna: 26 – Loonie
• Cochrane: 21 to 24 – Nickel to quarter
• Didsbury: 21 to 24 – Nickel to quarter
• Enchant: 21 – Nickel

Listed below are the 24-hour rainfall amounts, measured in millimetres:

• Deadwood: 74.4
• Calgary: 59.8
• Calgary Intl: 50
• Rocky Mountain House Auto: 49.7
• Hawk Hills: 48.1
• Edson Climate: 45.1
• Edson: 44
• Linden: 35
• Delburne: 34.3
• Three Hills: 31.7
• Hendrickson Creek: 29.6
• High Prairie AGDM: 27
• Carrot Creek AGCM: 26.8
• Leedale AGDM: 25.2
• Nordegg CS: 24.8
• Clear Hills: 22.8
• Hespero: 21.7
• Violet Grove: 21.4
• Willow Creek: 21
• Beaverlodge: 19.3
• Black Diamond: 19.2
• Jean Cote: 18.7
• Ballater AGCM: 17.1
• Edmonton Intl: 17
• Barnwell: 16.9
• Valleyview: 16.2

Several areas experienced high winds Saturday night. They are outlined below by kilometres per hour:

• Priddis Observatory: 128
• Champion: 94
• Verger: 93
• Rainier: 93
• Sunnynook AGCM: 91
• Bull Springs: 89
• Onefour: 85
• Medicine Hat: 83
• Lodge Creek: 83
• Grassy Lake: 81
• Del Bonita: 80
• Masinssin: 80
• Medicine Hat: 70
• Edmonton Intl: 67
• Pincher Creek: 65
  Funnel cloud near Barnwell. (Photo supplied by Laura Leann Hansen)
  Hail at Johnson Fresh Farms near Taber. (Photo supplied by Johnson Fresh Farms)
  Vehicles on a flooded Deerfoot Trail in Calgary. (Photo supplied by Cody Stuart)
  Hail damage to a windsheld in Calgary. (Photo supplied by Stephan Cassley)