Roaring thunderstorms, heavy hail and wild winds were seen in several parts of the province.
The storm shut down Taste of Edmonton just before 5 p.m. and people attending K-Days were encouraged to seek shelter inside the Edmonton Expo Centre or Northlands Park.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m., people at K-Days were meandering back into the midway as the heavy downpour turned into a drizzle.
At Insterstellar Rodeo Edmonoton, the outdoor music festival was temporarily shut down around 6 p.m. and attendees were asked to stay beneath tthe canopy in the Heritage Amphitheatre.
The severe weather also suspended service on the LRT between Southgate and Century Park stations.
What a storm! LRT service is suspended between Southgate and Century Park due to extreme high winds. Buses have been called in to provide contingency service. #yegtransit #yegtraffic
— Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) (@takeETSalert) July 20, 2018
Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm watches for Edmonton and parts of central Alberta late Friday morning, and some were upgraded as the day progressed.
People took to social media to share what they observed when the storm rolled in,
Vorticity over Whyte Ave? #abstorm #yegwx pic.twitter.com/blWJLAhw65
— Ross Lockwood (@spincrisis) July 20, 2018
Hail stopped in Westlock county. A lot of damage . pic.twitter.com/R0b97HWoP1
— Kim Kostrub (@kostrub_kim) July 20, 2018
Today's thunderstorm risk could mean heavy rain. Be aware and never enter an underpass that is flooded. Call 311 to report street flooding and dislodged manhole covers. #yeg #yegwx
— EPCOR (@EPCOR) July 20, 2018
CTV Edmonton's metrologist Josh Classen said there’s a chance the severe storms could develop to the south and southwest of Edmonton, before tracking east-northeast and growing in intensity.
5:20pm - Worst of the storms is moving quickly through the E & NE parts of #yegwx area. West & SW #yeg is in a break for an hour or so. Then...a chance of another shower or storm. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/gsBMCxmuAx
— Josh Classen (@joshclassenCTV) July 20, 2018
Environment Canada also issued rainfall warnings for parts of northwest Alberta.