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Storm potential in Calgary overnight

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AFTERNOON UPDATE: We're still watching. For now, that's all we've got, is watching. However, events are beginning to unfold:

Locally, Calgary remains out of this web - that's not to say these circumstances will last forever. Hail is possible locally, with potential it reaches dime-sized pieces, and a smaller chance it's larger in isolated areas. The expectation is that a blast of cool air is going to pelt our temperature down, increase our wind, lift the warm, moist air mass near the surface, and generate storms.

The read-outs keep this now from 2-4 p.m.

The rest of the week remains benign - we've got another chance of showers - and a possible thundershower, though the chance at present is remote in this case - Wednesday.

MORNING EDITION: Well that went okay yesterday for farmers! We'll still be running a precipitation deficit for a while, yet, but with 10.9 millimetres of rain recorded at the airport, that was by far the wettest day Calgary has had so far, corroborated with this from around 10:00 a.m. Sunday.

While the Calgary data is quite simple to come across, other locations are not as easy to track – still, here's a look from the Strathmore radar at the 24-hour precipitation accumulation from 6:42 a.m., Sunday to Monday:

You're seeing that right; to Calgary’s southeast, between Lomond and Armada, Alta., there was well in excess of 100 millimetres of rain, as severe weather parked stationary over the region for at least five hours. This created localized flooding, with the dry ground unable to drink in the moisture fast enough.

More is on the way. In part due to yesterday's rain, some events will be severe thunderstorms.

The risk zone for significant weather runs in a band from Grande Prairie down through Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, parallel to the foothills. This includes a good chance for Calgary. Therein, heavy rain bands will couple with (up to) quarter-sized hail and the possibility of funnel clouds.

Local rain totals will exceed five millimetres, may exceed 10 mm, and could go as high as 15 mm, especially with the trigger of a storm. The major factor for your consideration today: while these storms are still possible in the later afternoon, their best chance of forming is the early afternoon. There is even potential before we've crested past noon.

When thunder roars, head indoors. The afternoon update of this article will come a touch earlier, today.

Showers will persist tomorrow, lighter than the offering expected today. The remainder of the week clears up.

YOUR FIVE-DAY CALGARY FORECAST

Monday

  • Evening: showers, low 9 C

Tuesday

  • Showers, then afternoon clearing 
  • Daytime high: 16 C
  • Evening: some cloud, low 8 C

Wednesday

  • Partly cloudy, chance of afternoon showers
  • Daytime high: 18 C
  • Evening: clear, low 6 C

Thursday

  • Mainly sunny
  • Daytime high: 21 C
  • Evening: mainly cloudy, low 13 C

Friday

  • Mainly cloudy
  • Daytime high: 22 C
  • Evening: mainly cloudy, low 13 C

Saturday

  • Partly cloudy
  • Daytime high: 24 C
  • Evening: some cloud, low 11 C

In the wake of severe storms, if it's safe to do so, please share those pictures my way on Twitter, or to our Instagram at @CTVCalgaryWeather.

Today's pic was delivered by Don at Yamnuska, and it's a thing of beauty!

Viewer Don's photo from Yamnuska.

Submit your weather photos here to see them featured in our article, and perhaps even as the pic of the day during our News at Six!
 

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