Thunderstorms swept through Calgary Tuesday night, bringing heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds to parts of the city. The storm broke branches and uprooted trees in some neighbourhoods, such as Bonavista Downs. While the weather system had largely moved out by Wednesday morning, it capped off an active stretch of severe weather across Alberta. Environment and Climate Change Canada received reports of two possible tornadoes in southern Alberta on Tuesday. Golf ball-sized hail, measuring about 4.5 centimetres in diameter, was also reported near Brooks. Strong winds accompanied the storms, with gusts reaching 95 km/h in Strathmore, 122 km/h in Medicine Hat, 131 km/h in Rolling Hills and 135 km/h in Ralston. The severe weather came one day after another tornado touched down near Girouxville, about 450 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, on Monday evening. That tornado damaged farm buildings, including machine sheds and grain storage facilities, and tore roofs off several homes in the community. One garage was flipped upside down, and power was knocked out throughout the village. Marcel Maure, Smoky River’s director of protective services and fire chief, said residents quickly came together to help with the cleanup. “It’s an amazing experience to see that many people come out and assist their neighbours, friends and family,” Maure said. Environment Canada says Alberta typically sees about 15 tornadoes in a year. So far this spring, there have been reports of up to 10 tornadoes across the province. Cost of storms push up premiums The weather also comes as homeowners continue to face rising insurance costs linked to severe weather events. According to data analyzed by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Alberta recorded the largest increase in homeowners’ insurance premiums in the country over the last 20 years. Between December 2005 and December 2025, premiums rose 391.6 per cent in Alberta. In the past five years, premiums in the province went up 55.8 per cent, much higher than the national average of 38.6 per cent. The bureau says Alberta’s sharp increase is partly due to more hailstorms, wildfires, and severe storms, especially in and around Calgary.
