We’re used to epic rain and hail storms on the prairies, but yesterday, Monday, August 5, Calgary was hit hard by a devastating hailstorm that left significant damage and many people shocked in the aftermath.
The storm, classified as a supercell, swept through the city with alarming intensity, bringing torrential rain, powerful winds, and hailstones the size of golf balls.
Some areas on the city’s outskirts reported hail as large as baseballs!
The storm’s onset was rapid, catching many by surprise.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the atmospheric conditions were primed for severe weather, allowing the storm to intensify quickly.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued at 7:57 PM, warning residents of the dangerous conditions.
But the storm was already pounding some parts of the city when the alert was issued, leaving people with no time to prepare.
The storm hit the northern part of Calgary particularly hard, causing widespread destruction.
Vehicles were battered, windows were shattered, and hundreds of homes suffered damage.
Major routes like Stoney Trail and Deerfoot Trail became hazardous as drivers sought shelter from the hail under overpasses, leading to significant traffic disruptions.
The city’s traffic cameras captured scenes of vehicles stopped under overpasses, prompting warnings from authorities about the dangers of such actions.
Airport Hit Hard
The Calgary International Airport (YYC) was among the hardest-hit locations.
Hail and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to the domestic terminal, which led to its partial closure.
Roof panels collapsed, water pooled on the floors, and alarms blared throughout the terminal.
Gates B and C were evacuated as a safety precaution, and travellers faced delays and uncertainty as the airport worked to assess the full extent of the damage.
The Calgary Airport Authority issued a statement emphasizing their priority of ensuring the safety of all guests and staff while advising passengers to check with their airlines for updates on flight statuses.
Amid the chaos, travellers at the airport shared their experiences.
Jodie Russett, passing through Calgary on her way to Kelowna, B.C., described watching part of the ceiling fall in.
Another traveller, Emmanuel Ebere, echoed the sentiment of helplessness, acknowledging that “Mother Nature comes calling, and I guess we just have to adapt.”
The Calgary Airport Authority has begun the cleanup and repair process, but parts of the domestic terminal remain closed until further notice.
A Social Media Storm
Social media was flooded with images and videos of the destruction—smashed car windows, damaged siding, and destroyed gazebos.
A Reddit thread was created where people shared their storm photos and the damage.
As Calgarians take stock, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Every month, Alberta seems to shatter weather records, whether it is heat, the number of smoke hours, wind, or epic hail; the weather seems to be getting more extreme.
Many Calgarians are spending today on the phone with their insurance companies.
