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Jun 16, 20261
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Environment Canada Issues Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat
Environment Canada issued a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for Calgary, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat for Tuesday, warning of strong winds up to 80 km/h, large hail, heavy rain, and a slight tornado risk. The most intense activity is expected around 4 p.m., particularly affecting Cochrane, Airdrie, and north Calgary.
Quick Facts
Who
Environment Canada
What
Issued yellow-level severe thunderstorm watch
When
Tuesday afternoon and evening
Where
Calgary
- Issued yellow-level severe thunderstorm watch
- Warned of strong wind gusts, large hail, heavy rain, and slight tornado chance
- Confirmed tornado near Girouxville in northern Alberta
- Environment Canada
- Global Calgary weather specialist Drew Stremick
Environment Canada has issued a yellow-level severe thunderstorm watch for Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and surrounding areas, effective Tuesday. The national weather agency warns that conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours, with potential for strong wind gusts, large hail, heavy rain, and a slight chance of tornadoes.
Intensified storm activity is expected around 4 p.m. Tuesday, with areas including Cochrane, Airdrie, and north Calgary anticipated to experience the most severe impacts. Rain is forecast to begin in Calgary and areas to the north early Tuesday afternoon, increasing in intensity as the day progresses.
Wind gusts present a significant hazard across the region. The Lethbridge and Medicine Hat areas could experience gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour, strong enough to damage trees, buildings, and overturn vehicles. Calgary is expected to see gusts of up to 60 km/h, which will taper off to 20 km/h by Tuesday evening. The warning comes on the heels of Environment Canada confirming that a tornado touched down around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday near Girouxville in northern Alberta, approximately 60 kilometres south of Peace River.
Why This Matters
Severe thunderstorm watches directly affect public safety and operational decisions for residents, commuters, and businesses across three major Alberta regions. The combination of high wind speeds, large hail, and tornado risk requires immediate preparedness; residents should monitor updates, secure outdoor items, and stay indoors during peak activity around 4 p.m. Understanding the geographic scope (Cochrane, Airdrie, north Calgary face the highest risk) helps people prioritize precautions based on their location.