Tree toppled east of Jerry Potts and Red Crow Blvd. - Photo credit to Kara McNeely

By Dori Modney

Gusty wind creates havoc for semis, trees and trampolines

Sep 24, 2020 | 1:44 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — An old comedy bit says, “you know it’s windy when there are white caps in the bathroom bowl” – but, in Southern Alberta, you know it’s windy when semis can’t stay on the road, or your patio furniture winds up in another county.

There is a Wind WARNING for the area from Taber and Lethbridge, west to the Crowsnest Pass, north to Okotoks and South to the U-S border.

South-west wind gusts up to 100-kmph are impacting the entire region.

Just before 1:00-pm Thursday, Coaldale Emergency services were called to Highway-845 south of Coaldale for a flipped cargo trailer that was blocking the highway. Traffic was detoured for about a half hour.

There was also a grass fire reported north of Turin, about a mile off the highway. The Picture Butte and MD of Taber Fire Departments dealt with the blaze, along the border of the MD of Taber at Township Road 12-4 and Range Road 18-4. Crews had the fire under control by 4:30, but remained on scene to extinguish hot spots.

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The County remains under a Fire Ban due to the dry and windy conditions that have created an extreme fire hazard in the area. Please be cautious operating machinery in fields over the coming days.

Coaldale Fire and EMS detour traffic on Hwy-845 — Credit Coaldale Coaldale EMS

Semi drivers are encouraged to delay transport until the wind drops.

There is also a grass fire north of Turin, about a mile off the highway. The Picture Butte and MD of Taber Fire Departments are dealing with that fire.

Trampoline blown over in Copperwood – Photo credit to Alyssa Borix

A trampoline in Copperwood attempted to take flight from the owners backyard and a large tree toppled east of Jerry Potts and Red Crow Blvd.

The wind gusts are not expected to diminish until Thursday evening.