Parts of Saskatchewan pelted by storm packing hail, strong winds

Parts of Saskatchewan experienced a wicked storm on Thursday evening that literally left its mark.

The fast-moving thunderstorms brought hail, heavy rain and strong winds to southern and central Saskatchewan.

“It was a severe thunderstorm. We had warnings out on it. It’s characteristic during the summer months to get storms like this that put out severe weather,” said Shannon Moodie with Environment Canada.

Regina was one of the hardest-hit places. Wind speeds topped 106 km/h in the Queen City causing damage, power outages and jeopardizing a summer food festival.

Due to storm damage, we will not be opening Ribfest on Friday. Once we can properly assess the BBQ Rigs on Friday,…

Posted by Queen City Ribfest on Thursday, July 22, 2021

Pea to loonie sized hail was also reported around Weyburn and Southey.

Wind damage from tonight's storm. Southey, SK. #skstorm #southey pic.twitter.com/0SJH3ZH44E

— Jecey Buburuz (@JeceyB) July 23, 2021

So much hail! #SkStorm #Longlaketon pic.twitter.com/2bJdVhERl2

— cαrιѕѕα (@carissatrenton) July 23, 2021

Moodie said a separate storm she called a “gust front” moved through the Battleford, Saskatoon and Prince Alberta areas packing large hail and strong winds.

“It’s not exactly like a thunderstorm per say, but its attached to a thunderstorm. With those gust fronts you can see really severe winds and they go out quite far ahead of the thunderstorm.

Saskatoon saw strong wind gusts, but was spared from the large hail reported north and south of Prince Albert.

Moodie said the Shell Lake region saw golf-ball-sized hail while toonie sized stones fell at Anglin and Christopher Lakes.

"The #SKStorm warning says chance of toonie-sized hail, but they say that a lot so…"
1 minute later: pic.twitter.com/PZdaV7VF1x

— °kerry (@sourjoy) July 23, 2021