Friday’s forecast called for west winds of 60 km/h gusting to 80 overnight. The wind came in stronger than that. At 5:05 a.m. Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a yellow wind warning for the City of Lethbridge.
What the warning says
ECCC says strong west winds gusting up to 110 km/h were continuing early Saturday and should gradually weaken later in the morning. It rates the impact as moderate, with high confidence in the forecast. Driving will likely be difficult, and damage to roofs, fences, branches and soft shelters is possible.
A yellow warning means ECCC expects moderate impacts. Orange and red warnings are kept for more serious ones.
What’s changed, and what’s next
From ECCC’s Lethbridge forecast issued at 4:04 a.m. Saturday:
- Saturday: west 70 km/h gusting to 100, easing to 30 gusting to 50 during the morning, then turning south 20 gusting to 40. Mainly sunny, with more cloud this afternoon. High 16.
- Saturday night: south 30 gusting to 50 this evening. Low 8.
- Sunday: southwest 50 gusting to 70, becoming west 80 gusting to 100 in the morning. Mainly sunny, high 13, and still windy Sunday night.
So the strong wind eases today, then a second round arrives Sunday morning with gusts close to today’s. Forecasts change, so check weather.gc.ca or the WeatherCAN app for the latest alerts before you head out.
What it means around here
This is dry wind, with no rain or snow in the forecast, so the trouble is mostly things on the move: blowing dust, tipped bins, loose branches and fence panels. Crosswinds are worst on open highways outside the city and on the bridges across the river valley, especially for high-sided vehicles and anyone towing a trailer. Keep pets close and gates latched.
Five practical steps
- Secure or bring in anything that can blow away: garbage and recycling carts, patio furniture, decorations, trampolines. ECCC’s warning says to secure loose objects.
- Before a highway trip, check 511 Alberta for road reports and closures.
- Charge phones and a power bank, and know where your flashlight is. If the power goes out, the Government of Canada suggests unplugging electronics and leaving one light on so you’ll know when it’s back.
- Stay well away from any downed power line, and call 911.
- Check the alerts again Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
More: Wind in Lethbridge, our power outage page, and Weather School Lesson 4: Why Wind Blows. To watch the gusts minute by minute, Gary’s West Lethbridge station updates every minute.