Hail and heavy rain damage crops across southern Alberta

Heavy rain, wind and hail struck southern Alberta over the weekend, damaging crops that had been rated in strong condition after a wet spring. Some hailstones approached the size of billiard balls, and rainfall reached 50 millimetres in affected areas.

, said his 1,800-hectare operation sustained high damage on 85 to 90 per cent of its wheat, canola and barley fields. The family has grown those crops for more than a century.

Insurance and assessment process The Alberta Financial Services Corporation said the full extent of damage from the Lethbridge area into central Alberta may not be known for 14 days, the deadline for producers to report losses. The farmer near Blackie is surveying fields and awaiting an insurance determination while noting that buildings and the home were not damaged.

Storm activity A storm chaser described the scene as widespread, with hailstones nearly the size of pool balls. Another system caused flooding in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, about 155 kilometres east of the Alberta border. A meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada said the weekend featured a very active setup for severe weather, with hail reported as far north as Cold Lake and funnel clouds near several communities.

One storm tracked roughly 600 kilometres from Calgary to Moose Jaw. The same meteorologist noted that similar hail events typically begin in early July and become more common later in the month. Last year, comparable storms damaged a 200-kilometre swath of cropland from Calgary toward Saskatoon.

Crop conditions before storms A provincial crop report issued before the weekend showed excellent soil ratings after above-average June rainfall. All major crops in southern and central regions were rated in better condition than long-term averages as of June 30, though some areas remained behind schedule and required additional heat.