MUST SEE: Hail shaft, severe storms stun Albertans
Winds have the potential to exceed 100 km/h in some areas
Severe thunderstorms that tracked across Alberta brought hail, heavy rain, whipping winds, and lightning throughout Thursday evening. During the storms social media users captured the stunning weather and shared images of a hail shaft, which is found underneath a convective storm when an abundance of hail is falling from the storm.
Hail shafts are not uncommon, however, what makes this hail shaft spectacular is how visible it is, as normally it would be surrounded by rain which would obscure it.
The recent above-seasonal temperatures have been the perfect fuel for storm development in parts of central and southern Alberta, along with high instability and wind shear, which support the formation of thunderstorms. The storms are expected to track towards southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba through Friday.
See below for the stormy weather that tracked through Alberta:
Captured in Silverado Plains Close, Calgary, AB. Credit: Joe Mendoza
