This summer season heading into August is a good time to keep a rain poncho at the ready. It’s also the time when people living in the Strathmore region typically see severe weather.

Danielle Desjardins, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada explained that right now there are no warnings for the area but there is a watch in place for a large portion of southern Alberta.

There’s a severe thunderstorm watch for the Strathmore, Brooks and Vulcan region, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, damaging hail and heavy rain.
Thunderstorms are expected over much of southern and central Alberta today. Some of these thunderstorms will become severe.

She noted that there are no tornado warnings. “There is a potential for some thunderstorms that become severe. There is a possibility that one could produce a tornado,” she said.

Typically we see severe thunderstorms from June to August in this area.

“The peak of summer is typically the prime time for severe thunderstorm development. Thunderstorms start to develop in the afternoon and last until the evening, so the afternoon and evening are the current peak hours I guess for thunderstorm development and for us the severe weather.”

She explained that the hot humid air mass provides the energy for these thunderstorms.

Desjardins says it’s always prudent to have a severe weather kit, people can also download Environment Canada’s WeatherCAN app.

“That will actually send you an alert if there is a severe thunderstorm watch or warning in your area,” she said. If you don’t have the app she said to check the Environment Canada website for updates or keep your eyes on the sky, and if it looks like it’s going to storm, head indoors.

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