Baseball-sized hail falls on central Alberta
Last Updated: Monday, July 16, 2007 | 2:19 PM MT
CBC News
Environment Canada says hailstones as big as baseballs fell in High River, Airdrie and Irricana Sunday night as severe thunderstorms swept through central Alberta.
Several tornado warnings were issued Sunday night. Environment Canada's weather office said several people reported funnel clouds, including one that touched down briefly near Olds.
Hailstones fell in several communities, with the largest hitting High River, Airdrie and Irricana.
Wade Nelson, who lives on a ranch near High River, said he got his vehicle into his garage just in time.
"It was quite the show. They were like the size of a hockey puck," he said. "They were sure hitting the windshield pretty hard. Like artillery coming down."
High River resident Bonnie Murray said the fist-sized hail cracked her skylight and took out one of her neighbour's back windows.
Shannon Williams was pumping gas in Carstairs when the storm blew into the town, dumping hail the size of golf balls.
"It is really black, windy and hailing," she told CBC News on Sunday night. "It's looking pretty bad out there."
The campground at Crimson Lake Provincial Park west of Rocky Mountain House was hard hit by the storm.
Bertha Taks, who helps run the campground, said the storm knocked down trees, damaging three trailers.
"The rain was in sheets, you could see it just blowing," she said.
"We had people coming in our store and saying we've got trees down, trees on our trailers, and trees across the road," she said.
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