Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Calgary International Airport on Sunday evening, as a major electrical storm forced officials to postpone or cancel flights.

Some planes were able to land, but passengers had to remain aboard as the storm passed. Ground crews remained on alert for an hour.

Calgary airport was closed briefly by an electrical storm.
(Courtesy Calgary Airport Authority)

Planes were lined up at gates, while others cruised in holding patterns above the city. Six flights were cancelled.

After the storm passed, the airport's luggage handling system was overloaded. Some carousels were backed up.

Many travellers were forced to seek last-minute accommodations.

Storms pound southern Alberta

Heavy rain, hail, and strong winds were reported all over southern Alberta on Sunday, including baseball-sized hail in De Winton, just south of Calgary.

Residents of an area sweeping from Drumheller to Medicine Hat and Bow Island spent three hours in the evening on alert for tornadoes.

Environment Canada also issued tornado warnings for Kneehill Country near the village of Torrington, as well as Red Deer County near Pine Lake.

However, officials at Environment Canada later said there was no indication any funnel clouds caused any damage.