Severe thunderstorms with tornado risk expected across Alberta Wednesday
Environment Canada warns of wind gusts up to 110 km/h, hail as large as baseballs, and possible tornadoes, particularly west of Edmonton.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Much of Alberta is bracing for a severe weather day Wednesday, July 15, with Environment Canada warning of dangerous thunderstorms that may produce enormous hail and tornadoes.
A high-risk zone covers the area west and northwest of Edmonton, including Drayton Valley, Edson, Whitecourt, Mayerthorpe, and Swan Hills. In that region, wind gusts could reach 110 kilometres an hour, thunderstorms may produce hail up to seven centimetres in size — equivalent to a baseball — and up to 50 millimetres of rain is possible. A tornado cannot be ruled out.
A moderate-risk zone just outside the high-risk area encompasses Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Sylvan Lake, and Cold Lake, with wind gusts up to 90 km/h, hail up to four centimetres, and rainfall up to 40 millimetres. A second moderate-risk zone hugging the Saskatchewan border south of Lloydminster to the Montana border — including Medicine Hat, Elkwater, Provost, and Consort — carries the same wind and hail risks plus a possible tornado.
Other parts of the province, including Calgary, Fort McMurray, Peace River, Lloydminster, Okotoks, and Lethbridge, are at risk of thunderstorms producing wind gusts of 70 km/h, hail up to three centimetres, and up to 40 millimetres of rain.
The threat continues overnight into early Thursday, with the Edmonton-to-Fort McMurray area still at minor risk for wind gusts up to 80 km/h, hail up to two centimetres, and up to 40 millimetres of rain. Current weather watches and warnings are available on Environment Canada's website.
The facts
What's the maximum wind speed expected in Alberta on July 15, 2026?
Wind gusts up to 110 kilometres an hour are forecast in the high-risk zone west and northwest of Edmonton on July 15, 2026.
How large could hail get in the highest-risk areas?
Hail as large as seven centimetres — equivalent to a baseball — is possible in the high-risk zone west and northwest of Edmonton on July 15, 2026.
Which Alberta cities are in the moderate-risk zone for severe weather?
Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Sylvan Lake, and Cold Lake are in a moderate-risk zone expecting wind gusts up to 90 km/h and hail up to four centimetres on July 15, 2026.
Is tornado risk expected anywhere in Alberta on July 15, 2026?
Tornadoes cannot be ruled out in the high-risk zone west and northwest of Edmonton, and are possible in the moderate-risk zone along the Saskatchewan-Montana border, on July 15, 2026.
