On Thursday afternoon, Environment Canada issued a number of severe thunderstorm warnings and watches for the Edmonton area - warnings that were downgraded hours later.
Just before 6:30 p.m., Environment Canada ended the thunderstorm watches for Edmonton, and all areas lying to the east of the city.
At about 5:40 p.m. Thursday, Environment Canada issued severe weather watches for the following areas:
- City of Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park
- Spruce Grove, Morinville, Mayerthorpe, Evansburg
- Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Redwater, Smoky Lake
- Drayton Valley, Devon, Rimbey, Pigeon Lake
- Leduc, Camrose, Wetaskiwin, Tofield
- Lloydminster, Wainwright, Vermilion, Provost
The warnings initially covered the following areas:
- City of Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park
- Sturgeon County, near Legal and Mearns, and Morinville, Volmer and Big Lake
- Leduc County near Warburg, Thorsby, Golden Days, Calmar, Devon, Leduc, Beaumont and Kavanaugh
- County of Wetaskiwin near Pigeon Lake, Alder Flats, Winfield
- Ponoka County near Rimbey, Bluffton and Hoadley
At about 4:30 p.m. the following regions were added to the warnings:
- Lamont County near Andrew, Wostok, Mundare, Chipman and Ukrainian Village
- Smoky Lake County near Smoky Lake and Waskatenau
- Beaver County near Tofield
- Camrose County near Camrose, Hay Lakes, Bittern Lake, New Norway, Edberg, Ferintosh and Miquelon Lake Provincial Park
Just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, meteorologists said they’re tracking a line of severe thunderstorms – stretching from 15 kilometres west of Morinville to 25 kilometres west of Rimbey.
Officials said nickel sized hail, and strong wind gusts can be expected.
More to come...
