Golf ball-sized hail damages homes in Springbrook, storm stretches 300 km
A severe thunderstorm that had been forecast tore across central Alberta on Sunday, leaving Springbrook homes battered while nearby Gasoline Alley saw little damage despite similarly large hail.
Why it matters
The storm's wide path means residents and farmers across central Alberta may face significant property and crop damage costs in the weeks ahead.
A powerful storm system dumped hail as large as golf balls across a nearly 300-kilometre stretch of central Alberta on Sunday, from Springbrook to Wainwright, with Springbrook appearing to bear the brunt of the damage to homes.
Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist James Colangelo said the storm developed near the Foothills and moved northeast from Sundre. The first severe cell hit the Red Deer area around 4 p.m. with golf ball-sized hail, followed by similar-sized hail near Ardley, about 49 km east of Red Deer, around 6:30 p.m. Quarter-sized hail was reported northwest of Crossfield around the same time.
The largest hail was reported near Czar, roughly 280 km east of Red Deer, where hen egg-sized stones about five centimetres in diameter fell around 7:30 p.m. A funnel cloud was also reported in the Czar area at that time.
The Agriculture Financial Services Corporation said it is already receiving claims from the storm but cannot yet determine the full extent of damage to homes, vehicles and crops. Clients have 14 days from the storm to file hail damage claims, and AFSC expects more claims in the coming days.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.