Flash flooding has been reported in several areas around Calgary following a severe thunderstorm event Friday evening.
Before the storm hit the area, Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm warnings across southern Alberta last week, but the warnings were cancelled in Calgary sometime past 8pm. The agency warned that thunderstorms can cause heavy rain, hail, and strong wind gusts.
Calgary police told CBC News that they received multiple reports of flash flooding and hazardous driving conditions following the Friday storm. Police have also advised motorists to avoid driving if at all possible and to exercise extreme caution if travel is necessary.
Major roads in Calgary such as 7th Avenue S.W. were flooded, forcing motorists to wade into pooling water.
CBC News also reported that the extent of the damage from both hail and flooding will be unclear for some time, noting that the city experienced the nation’s fourth costliest natural disaster just last year, when a massive hailstorm struck Calgary in July 2020 and caused at least $1.2 billion in insured damages.
