Severe thunderstorm watch ended for Calgary

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Calgary’s heat wave is over, but thunderstorms could take its place.

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the City of Calgary and some surrounding areas shortly past noon Sunday. The watch ended Sunday evening.

There is still a chance of showers overnight and Environment Canada still indicates the risk of a thunderstorm.

“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms this afternoon. These thunderstorms may be capable of producing large hail, strong wind gusts and heavy rain,” the federal agency said.

By Sunday afternoon the severe thunderstorm watch that had been issued for much of Alberta’s foothills, including the Canmore, Okotoks, Rocky Mountain House and Sundre, was over.

Monday is slated to be a rainy day in Calgary, with 20 to 30 millimetres of precipitation forecasted alongside thunderstorm risks and a 17 C high. The mercury is expected to climb back up after that, however, with highs in the mid-20s beginning Tuesday through the weekend.

Some parts of Alberta have seen severe storms this weekend.

In Ponoka, about 60 kilometres north of Red Deer, that included reports of hailstones measuring nearly an inch in diameter Sunday which damaged some homes in the area.

Western University’s National Hail Project is seeking reports from Albertans who experienced severe storms this weekend. Those reports can be submitted to their Twitter page at @NHP_Reports or by using #ABstorm.