Destructive hailstorms carved 400+ km scar on the Prairies
Two intense hailstorms rolled across the Prairies on Aug. 20, leaving behind significant damage in their wake
Clusters of intense thunderstorms that swept across the southern Prairies on Aug. 20 produced so much hail that scars tracing the storms’ paths are visible on satellite imagery.
Two rounds of thunderstorms caused significant and widespread hail damage throughout southern portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The storms destroyed crops, shattered windows, and defoliated trees.
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A favourable environment allowed thunderstorms to produce damaging winds and copious amounts of hail across sections of Alberta and Saskatchewan on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Crews with Western University’s Northern Hail Project (NHP) surveyed the aftermath of these storms and found significant damage throughout the region.
The most intense cluster of storms swept through Brooks, Alta., producing large hail along a swath that extended more than 400 km into neighbouring Saskatchewan.
Damage to grass, trees, and crops in the region was so severe that the storm left behind a scar visible by satellites, a testament to the intensity and scope of the hail swath.
The organization said in a press release that “extreme wind-driven hail damage, among the worst the NHP has documented to date,” occurred near Brooks as hailstones up to 4-5 cm in diameter blew around in wind gusts stronger than 120 km/h.
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Officials found that some of the hail damage included the removal of siding from buildings, extensive roof damage, shattered windows, near-complete crop losses, and trees stripped of foliage and bark. High winds crumpled some metal power lines and damaged irrigation pivots.
Later the same afternoon, another cluster of thunderstorms caused significant hail damage as it swept through communities north of Saskatoon. Folks near Radisson, Sask., reported hailstones as large as tennis balls and baseballs, according to the NHP.
Header image courtesy of Laurie Baron.