Calgary cleans up after thunderstorm rips through southern Alberta

Calgarians will be cleaning up Friday after a powerful thunderstorm rolled through southern Alberta Thursday, bringing thunder, lightning, and wind gusts upwards of 90 kilometres per hour that toppled trees and knocked out power to thousands of homes.

The thunderstorm hit Calgary at 7:30 p.m., bringing downtrees all over the city, some of which knocked down power lines.

About 2,400 houses lost power in several neighbourhoods, includingPump Hill,Palliser, andOakridge, Tuscany,HawkwoodandEdgemont.

Enmaxhad extra staff on the groundto handle any issues during the storm. The power companysaid all of the affected homes had electricityrestored by Friday morning.

Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm watches for much of southern Alberta, including Calgary. It also issuedatornado watch forBrooks,Strathmoreand Vulcan, which was lifted at about 9:30 p.m.

The agency said the low pressure system arrivedfrom the Pacific Northwest and was expected to cause severe thunderstorms in the Foothills, capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail.

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