Storm brings heavy rain, large hail and winds strong enough to take down power lines, infrastructure

A cleanup is underway in the area of Brooks, Alta., following a damaging storm. Hannah Lepine reports.

A perilous situation was unfolding Wednesday night near the city of Brooks, Alta., where a powerful storm brought heavy rain, large hail and winds so strong they knocked power lines and infrastructure to the ground.

RCMP say a vehicle with occupants inside became trapped under a live power line that collapsed on Highway 1 and Highway 36 just outside Brooks.

Emergency crews were dispatched along with Fortis Alberta crews to de-energize the line so that the people in the car could safely be rescued.

Emergency crews were dispatched along with Fortis Alberta crews to de-energize the line so that the people in the car could safely be rescued.

The family was eventually safely removed from the vehicle and taken to hospital as a precaution.

After, one westbound lane was reopened.

The other lanes, including all eastbound lanes, remained closed.

RCMP say there were many road closures in the area, and several stranded vehicles with significant damage.

Online, Fortis Alberta posted that, “Due to severe storm damage, we are experiencing multiple downed power poles, trees on lines and wires down across the following areas: Brooks, Town of Bassano, Villages of Rosemary, Tilley, Duchess and Patricia.”

“Our crews are actively responding to the situation. However, we ask customers to prepare for the possibility of being without power overnight. Triage and repair efforts will resume at daylight,” Fortis Alberta wrote.

In a statement to CTV News, Fortis Alberta added, “Outages are impacting our customers due to downed poles and wires. While a full assessment is still underway, initial triage indicates that multiple poles are down.”

“Additionally, the transmission provider, AltaLink, has reported structural damage to its infrastructure, which is contributing to the disruption to Fortis Alberta’s system,” the statement read.

“Restoration efforts are actively in progress. Our crews will continue working into the evening, and full triage and repair operations will resume at daylight to ensure safe restoration.”

Fortis Alberta said the safety of residents and responders are its top priority.

“We ask that everyone stays clear of any downed power lines and report them immediately by calling 310-WIRE (9473),” the statement read.

Brandon Houck said the Brooks area saw “a very powerful supercell develop.”

“We had at least, I’d say, golf-ball-sized hail—toonie- to golf-ball-sized hail—and damaging winds. It just shows you the intensity of this very powerful supercell,” Houck said.

“The corn crop just beside me—that’s been torn apart but not as bad. ... To the north of me, where the more severe winds and hail hit, it’s just swept right clean from the ground.

“Just to the north of me as well, we had power lines get knocked down and a roof from a barn get torn off as well.”

Houck said he “had to put the bicycle helmet on.”

Before the storm hit, a severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the Calgary area on Wednesday.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) posted an update at 3:25 p.m., saying, “Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and will move to the east into the evening,” the ECCC posted. These severe thunderstorms will be capable of producing damaging hail, very strong wind gusts, and heavy rain. Hail will be the primary threat in the afternoon, with wind gusts becoming the main threat through the evening hours.”

A severe thunderstorm watch was also in effect for Longview and Foothills County, including the Eden Valley Reserve.

At 5:19 p.m. ECCC posted a severe thunderstorm warning for southeastern and south-central Alberta.

Areas included in the warning were Bassano, Brooks, Dinosaur Park, Buffalo, Empress, Patricia and Rolling Hills.

“Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a dangerous thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to golf-ball-size hail and heavy rain,” the warning said.

“This severe thunderstorm is located over Brooks and is moving to the east at 80 km/h. Large hail will likely cause significant damage and injury.”