Damages in the Brooks area from Wednesday's storm. (Photo: Billy Joe Junior)

By Jesse Gill

Storm through Brooks area causes damage Wednesday night

Aug 21, 2025 | 8:57 AM

UPDATE (Aug. 22): Brooks farm family devastated after loss of camel and pony in storm

Original Story:

Early Wednesday evening, Environment Canada said a fast-moving supercell tracked across southern Alberta, bringing significant, damaging wind gusts and loonie to golf ball-sized hail.

The wind and hail caused damage to property and trees.

According to power provider Fortis Alberta, there were multiple power outages in Newell and Vulcan counties.

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Alberta 511 stated that Highway 1 was closed between Brooks and Bassano due to multiple collisions and downed power lines.

Metal power lines flattened trees, and power poles snapped, and damage to irrigation pivots was reported near Brooks.

There have been no tornado reports from this severe thunderstorm as of Thursday morning.

Wind gust measurements, as of 10:00 p.m. Wednesday night, were over 100 km/hr in multiple areas.

East of Jenner, meteorologists measured wind gusts at Atlee at 149 km/hr, and Buffalo at 121.

East of Bassano, Lathom has winds up to 127.

Brooks and Patricia were both measured at 113.

Brooks RCMP had advised in a release shortly after 7:00 p.m. Wednesday that there were many road closures on Aug. 20 as a result of a severe storm that hit the city.

As of early Thursday morning, it was advised on Alberta 511 that a downed powerline pole was causing traffic delays.

North and southbound Highway 36 at Highway 1, west of Brooks is open with speed reduced due to de-energized power lines on the highway.

Westbound Highway 1 was open with one lane traffic with speed reduction to 50 km/h.

Both eastbound lanes on Highway 1 remain closed early Thursday morning, with Highway 36 as a detour.

Wednesday night Mounties said there were many vehicles disabled on roads and downed power lines.

Check 511 Alberta for the latest road condition updates.

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services said some tree branches fell onto power lines on Wednesday in Medicine Hat, but nothing major.

Environment Canada had posted several severe thunderstorm warnings on Wednesday night that stretched from the Calgary area through to Winnipeg.

At one point, a tornado warning was triggered in and around Saskatoon.

Significantly sized hail was reported along the stormfront, ranging in size from a nickel to a toonie.