The residents of Red Deer have only just begun to clean up their community after a brutal windstorm caused property damage and knocked out power across the region on Tuesday, forcing the city to declare a local state of emergency.
Wind gusts of over 100 km/h hit the city around 7pm.
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The Canadian Press reported that the storm was so strong that the roof of one local business was torn off by the winds and crashed down on nearby parked cars. In another case, the windows of a local mall were blown out.
According to Environment Canada, Red Deer was hit by one of several severe thunderstorms that rolled though the central part of Alberta on Tuesday.
Meteorologist Dan Kulak described the weather event as a “low-end severe thunderstorm” instead of a tornado, and added that such storms occur every year in the province.
“It was not a tornadic event. There is no evidence of tornadoes that we can find,” Kulak explained. “There were strong wind gusts across the province. It is not unusual.”
Kulak further noted that Environment Canada issued thunderstorm watches just before noon that warned that conditions were favorable for the development of thunderstorms that could induce wind gusts, hail, and heavy rain.
The
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) recently issued a release encouraging Red Deer’s residents to follow the direction of local authorities, among other advice.
“The first priority is to ensure the safety of yourself and your family,” said IBC Western vice-president Bill Adams. “Insurers across Alberta want to remind consumers that when severe weather occurs, it is important to understand their insurance policies and to know what is covered. If damage occurs, policyholders should contact their insurance representatives if they have any questions.”
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