Home › Weather › Alberta Weather Warnings Thunderstorms
Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the Canada Perspective Weather Desk. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are active across central and southern Alberta this afternoon, with strong winds, large hail, and heavy rain expected near Calgary, Edmonton, and the foothills. The threat is highest through early evening before a cold front moves through.
Which regions are under the strongest thunderstorm warnings?
The primary corridor stretches from Red Deer south to Lethbridge, including Calgary and the Highway 2 corridor. A separate cluster of storms near Edmonton carries a risk of damaging wind gusts above 90 km/h. While a tornado warning Alberta today is not currently issued, forecasters note that any supercell in this environment can quickly spin up a brief tornado. For comparison, similar instability is driving storms further east, with ontario weather warnings today covering parts of the Ottawa Valley and southern ontario weather warning today for the Niagara region.
How should you prepare for the next few hours?
Move any outdoor furniture inside, secure loose objects, and stay away from windows. If you hear a warning siren or see a funnel cloud, take shelter immediately in a basement or interior room on the lowest floor. Monitor the Canada Weather Warnings page for updates as storms move eastward. An alberta storm watch today remains in effect for areas north of Edmonton until midnight.
How long will these thunderstorms last?
Most individual storms will move through an area within 30 to 45 minutes, but multiple rounds are possible along the main line until around 9 p.m. local time. Conditions will clear overnight as the cold front passes.
Are tornadoes likely with these warnings?
While a tornado is not guaranteed, the atmospheric setup favours rotating supercells that could produce a brief tornado. Environment and Climate Change Canada will upgrade to a tornado warning if rotation is detected. Stay alert and have a shelter plan ready.
What’s the difference between a watch and a warning?
A thunderstorm watch means conditions are favourable for storms; a warning means one is occurring or imminent. Warnings require immediate action. Always treat a warning as a real threat, even if the sky looks calm where you are.