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Thunderstorms

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Peace Region Sunday

Aug 1, 2020 | 2:04 PM

UPDATE (Aug 2, 11:50 a.m.): Environment Canada has issued another severe thunderstorm watch for most of the Peace Region Sunday, as they say conditions could create dangerous thunderstorms that could produce damaging wind gusts, damaging hail and heavy rain.

They say thunderstorms are expected to build along parts of western Alberta this afternoon and are expected to move slowly eastward into the evening and overnight periods.

They add some of these storm could become severe.

“Very large hail can damage property, break windows, dent vehicles and cause serious injury. Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road,” says the weather office. “Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!”

The watch is in effect for the Grande Prairie area, Grande Cache, Fox Creek and Valleyview, Peace River and stretching up to High Level.

The thunderstorm watch is in conjuction with the continued heat warning for most of Alberta. In Grande Prairie Sunday, Environment Canada is call for a daytime high of 29 degrees, with the humidex reaching 34.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Grande Prairie and the Municipal District of Greenview.

The watch has been put in place for both the City and County of Grande Prairie, including Beaverlodge, Hythe, Demmit, Wembley, Sexsmith, and La Glace.

The watch is also in place for DeBolt, Little Smoky, O’Brien Provincial Park and Big Mountain Creek, Sturgeon Lake, Valleyview, New Fish Creek, Wapiti and Shutter Flats Recreation Area in the M.D. of Greenview.

The weather agency says conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms, which may also bring strong gusts of wind, damaging hail, and heavy rain.

The thunderstorms are expected to develop over the afternoon and last through the evening.

Very large hail can cause damage to property, and can also pose a risk of personal injury.

There is also a severe thunderstorm warning in place for the Fox Creek and Whitecourt areas and a severe thunderstorm watch in place for Hinton and Grande Cache. The B.C Peace is also under a severe thunderstorm watch.