Conducive setup for severe weather in Alberta yields large hail threat
A severe storm setup is taking shape in Alberta for Monday, with large hail emerging as a key threat––alongside the risk of damaging winds and heavy downpours.
Summer-like conditions are here for Western Canada, and that includes the chance of active weather a favourable severe storm setup taking shape in parts of Alberta going into Monday.
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But before then, we are expecting to see thunderstorms settle Sunday evening form parts of B.C. and Alberta. Any storms that do form on Sunday should remain below severe criteria, but they could still produce small hail and strong winds alongside the heavy rain.
Sunday will be a prelude to Monday's risk
Starting in the evening, on the western coast and eastern provincial border, B.C. will get most of the rain in the buildup. With small pockets of snow at higher altitudes, the West Coast, especially, will see a lot of rain going into the overnight period.
Northern Alberta will also be getting in on the action with rain around Grande Prairie and north of Whitecourt.
But that’s not all. Along the provincial border, eastern British Columbians and northeastern Albertans will be under a stalled upper trough. It carries the risk of triggering thunderstorms for the region from Sunday afternoon into the evening.
Thankfully, the thunderstorms are expected not to be severe, but may bring strong winds and small hail across the area.
Monday storm threat picks up in Alberta
Monday is where things are going to pick up, mainly in parts of Alberta, with the potential of severe weather heightened. A cold front will stretch from the north down to the south, draping itself across Alberta, becoming the catalyst for severe weather to set in by late afternoon into the evening.
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Both a stronger upper level of support and the warm temperatures setting in will enhance the instability, allowing the cold front to be the trigger for the storms.
This strong line of thunderstorms is expected to form across Alberta, with a higher risk of severe storms between Edmonton and Red Deer. Even still, the severe storms are expected to be small and isolated.
However, the severe storms are expected to bring strong winds of up to 100 km/h, heavy rain and large hail, which could be the size of a nickel or bigger.
The severity of the storms has low confidence, including some that have the potential of becoming supercells. The setup is being closely monitored, so stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest updates.
Expect rain to follow the storms across the province, forming around central and middle Alberta, with some of the rain across eastern British Columbia.
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast updates for Alberta.