Residents in Rocky View County (RVC) watched the skies on Aug. 6 and 7 as severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for most parts of the county.
The storm produced heavy winds, rain and golf ball-sized hail over both days’s afternoons and evenings.
“We had reports of large hail in the Airdrie and Cremona areas (on Aug. 6),” said Dan Kulak, meteorologist with Environment Canada.
Large, black funnel-like clouds were also reported by residents that live in the northwest communities of Airdrie.
“It was so scary, it sounded like a freight train coming,” said Airdrie resident Robie Jacobsen on the Aug. 7 storm.
“My kids were in the basement, I was scared as hell.”
On Aug. 7 Airdrie residents were left scrabbling after a severe thunderstorm shattered windshields, damaged siding on resident’s homes, broke residential and commercial windows, damaged trees, broke street lightning and caused localized flooding.
Kulak explained so far this summer, Environment Canada was issued four severe thunderstorm warning for the Airdrie-Rocky View County-Crossfield area three times in July and two in August so far.
Last year, the agency issued three warnings in June, five in July and three in August.
“I’d say your (region) is a little less (active) than last year,” he said.
The Town of Irricana was hit hard by a violent storm that left metres of hail in its wake on July 6, 2013 and tore through residents gardens, crops and roofs.
Kulak explained with severe thunderstorms, the weather pattern usually follow a specific list of behaviour starting from light rain, to heavy rainfall, small hail, to significant hail, a brief lull and then the possible formation of a tornado.
“We do talk about hail storm warnings, but statistically on average more people die from lightning strikes than anything else,” he said.
Kulak explained that 10 Albertans die each year from lightning strike, and the foothills receive more than 300,000 lightning strikes per year.
“We always say ‘keep your eye on the sky’ when you see lightning it’s time to go inside,” he said.
Environment Canada caution that if caught outdoors:
Avoid putting yourself above the surrounding landscape. Seek shelter in low-lying areas such as valleys, ditches and depressions but be aware of flooding.
Stay away from water. Don’t go boating or swimming if a storm threatens, and get to land as quickly as possible if you are already on the water. Lightning can strike the water and travel a substantial distance from its point of contact.
Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as tractors, golf carts, golf clubs, metal fences, motorcycles, lawn mowers and bicycles.
Avoid being the highest point in an open area. Swinging a golf club, or holding an umbrella or fishing rod can make you the tallest object and a target for lightning.
You are safe inside a car during lightning, but be aware of downed power lines which may be touching your car. You are safe inside the car, but you may receive a shock if you step outside.
In a forest, seek shelter in a low-lying area under a thick growth of small trees or bushes.
Keep alert for flash floods, sometimes caused by heavy rainfall, if seeking shelter in a ditch or low-lying area.
