With heat warnings already in effect, Environment Canada on Thursday issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Edmonton area as conditions create the potential for tornadoes.
An unstable airmass over Alberta means there is potential for development of dangerous thunderstorms, threatening to bring strong wind gusts, heavy rain and hail as large as golf balls, if not larger, to Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St. Albert, according to a thunderstorm watch notice posted Thursday afternoon.
The thunderstorm watch could be upgraded to a tornado watch depending on conditions later into the evening.
The watch advises people to stay indoors when the weather turns, as severe thunderstorms can produce hail that could cause severe injury and wind gusts that can toss large debris and tear apart weak buildings, break tree branches and potentially overturn vehicles.
Thunderstorm watches are also in effect for Devon, Rimbey, Pigeon Lake, Drayton Valley, Spruce Grove, Morinville, Mayerthorpe, Evansburg, Whitecourt, Edson, Fox Creek, Swan Hills, Rocky Mountain House, Caroline, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Redwater, Smoky Lake, Leduc, Camrose, Wetaskiwin, Tofield, Red Deer, Ponoka, Innisfail, Stettler and surrounding areas.
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