Calgary among areas that could be hit with heavy rain, hail as thunderstorm watch issued

Rain is expected to continue in Alberta this weekend, withsevere thunderstorm warnings and watchesin effect for the city of Calgary, along with much of the province's central and eastern portions.

Environment and Climate Change Canada hasissued a severe thunderstorm watchmeaningconditions are favourable for the development of a thunderstorm as of 6:49 p.m. for these areas:

• Calgary.
• Airdrie,Cochrane,Olds,Sundre.
• Brooks, Strathmore,Vulcan.
• Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Foremost.
• Drumheller, Three Hills.
• Lethbridge,Taber, Milk River.
• Medicine Hat,Bow Island, Suffield.
• Okotoks, High River, Claresholm.
• Red Deer,Ponoka, Innisfail,Stettler.
• Rocky Mountain House, Caroline.

The watches, first issued around 7 a.m. Saturday, said thunderstorms will continue to develop later into Saturday evening. Some of these thunderstorms could produce heavy rain, strong winds and large hail, Environment Canada said.

Around 7 p.m., Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning meaning conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that couldalso produce large hail, damaging winds or torrential rainfall forHanna, Coronation, Oyen, Okotoks,High River and Claresholm.

The agencywarns that large hail candamage property and cause injury, and that strong wind gusts couldtoss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.

"Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes," the alert read.

"Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors."

On Friday the City of Calgary rescinded its state of local emergency, whichhad gone into effecton Monday, as the city braced for significant rainfall.

Mayor Jyoti Gondeksaid Friday an approaching weather system was tracking farther south than originally anticipated.

Several days of rain, plus mountain snow melt runoff, had swollen the Bow and Elbow rivers in Calgary.

Although river levels are high, the risk of flooding in Calgary has passed for now, Gondek said, and the order is no longer needed.

"We are still in the midst of flood season please make sure you are staying safe," she said.

Some provincial parks remain closed because of high water levels. The government continues to post updates on those here.