Flash storm hits northern regions of Calgary

A flash storm packing both rain and hail on July 5 has left northern regions of Calgary to deal with a watery mess and to await the final tally on damages.

An Environment Canada spokesperson confirmed more than 50 mm of rain and hail – measuring from the size of a quarter up to a walnut, depending on where the hail fell – was unleashed as part “a fairly intense storm,” the Calgary Herald reports.

The storm started at about 7 pm and lasted less than an hour. Parts of the city were drenched by large amounts of rain and hit by punishing hail.

So much hail had fallen that some areas appeared as though snow had fallen, the newspaper notes. Also, the force of water prompted two manhole covers to pop.

Press reports indicated minor flooding in some areas, including flooding that caused traffic to back up in some parts of the city and flooding of a Canadian Superstore.

The possibility exists that hail could clog storm sewers, particularly when followed by heavy rain.

The weather report for the City of Calgary on July 6 called for sun in the morning, a mix of sun and cloud with a 60% chance of showers in the afternoon, and a risk of thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.