Floods reported as multiple thunderstorms rolled over Calgary

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A series of at least three thunderstorms that swept across Calgary on Friday afternoon and evening left flooding and golf ball-sized hail in the air.

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At 3:50 p.m., meteorologists followed a storm that could generate “very strong gusts of wind up to hail and heavy rain”.

This warning ended around 4:50 p.m. But the weather service again called for hail the size of nickel at 17:23, as well as for “very strong” wind gusts and heavy rain.

The second thunderstorm warning has also ended, but a watch remained in effect late Friday evening.

Heavy rains have caused local flooding in many areas of the city, particularly on roads. Calgary police said they had received multiple calls about flash floods and dangerous road conditions, adding they advised against driving.

The intersection of Blackfoot Trail and Ayliffe Road SE was closed due to flooding, police said, one of many major intersections hit by the storm.

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At 5:30 p.m., Calgary International Airport reported a funnel cloud under its current conditions, and many people posted pictures of a funnel-like cloud on Twitter.

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Environment Canada meteorologist Ron Mark, however, said the agency has since determined that it wasn’t a real funnel cloud.

“The Calgary Airport observer reported a funnel cloud,” said Mark. “Our assessment is that it wasn’t a funnel cloud. It was just the rotating base of the cloud and what we call the inflow into the thunderstorm. “

He said they had received reports of golf ball-sized hail and recorded at least three separate storms moving across the city.