A powerful supercell thunderstorm in southern Alberta, Canada, has left a massive 125-mile-long scar across the landscape, so extensive that it is clearly visible from space. A recent image from NASA's Aqua satellite shows the trail of destruction caused by the August 20 storm, which produced golf ball-sized hail and winds comparable to a Category 1 hurricane.
The severe weather event caused widespread property damage, downed power infrastructure, and resulted in the deaths of at least two farm animals near the city of Brooks.
Key Takeaways
- A hailstorm in southern Alberta on August 20 created a 125-mile-long (200 km) scar on the landscape.
- The storm was a rare 'supercell' that produced hailstones up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and winds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
- NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the damage trail, which stretches for nearly 125 miles and is 9 miles wide.
- Significant damage to homes, vehicles, and power lines was reported, and a camel and a pony were killed at a local farm.
- The region, known as "hailstorm alley," has sustained over C$6 billion in hail damage over the past five years.
Satellite Imagery Reveals Storm's Path
An image captured by NASA's Aqua satellite on August 24 provides a stark view of the storm's impact. The photograph reveals a pale, discolored streak stretching across southern Alberta. This 'scar' marks the path where massive hailstones and high winds tore through vegetation and churned the soil.
The visible trail of damage is approximately 125 miles (200 kilometers) long and 9 miles (15 kilometers) wide. According to NASA's Earth Observatory, the storm was a supercell, a specific and powerful type of thunderstorm characterized by a deep, persistently rotating updraft. While it produced relatively little lightning, its primary impact came from hail and wind.
Storm by the Numbers
- Path Length: 125 miles (200 km)
- Path Width: 9 miles (15 km)
- Max Hail Size: 2 inches (5 cm)
- Peak Wind Speed: 75 mph (120 km/h)
Widespread Damage in Southern Alberta
The storm's effects were most severe in the area around Brooks, a city located about 100 miles southeast of Calgary. Residents reported extensive damage to their property from the combination of large hail and destructive winds.
Impact on Homes and Infrastructure
Local news outlet CBC reported that homes and vehicles sustained significant damage. The force of the storm was powerful enough to bend large power pylons to a near 90-degree angle, disrupting local infrastructure.
Colleen Foisy, a resident of Brooks, described the aftermath to reporters.
"The whole front of the house is destroyed. The front fence actually got ripped off of the cemented posts. My flowers in my garden got thrown around, branches from the trees. There's hail damage all over my truck that's only a year old. The cover to my boat got shredded."
Her account highlights the destructive power of the hailstones and wind, which damaged everything from buildings to personal property.
Tragedy at a Local Farm
The storm also had a tragic impact on local animals. At the White Barn Fun Farm, located west of Brooks, the high winds blew over a large fence. The farm's owner told CBC that a Bactrian camel and a pony, described as "best friends," were killed in the incident. A horse and several birds at the farm were also injured.
Understanding Supercell Thunderstorms
Supercells are a rare but highly organized type of thunderstorm. Their defining feature is a mesocyclone, which is a deep and persistent rotating updraft. This rotation allows them to sustain themselves for hours and produce extreme weather phenomena, including very large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. They are less common than other thunderstorm types but are responsible for a disproportionate amount of severe weather damage.
A Known Region for Severe Weather
While this particular storm was extreme, severe hail events are not uncommon in this part of Canada. The region is often referred to as "hailstorm alley" due to its climate and geography, which are favorable for the development of such storms.
According to representatives from the Earth Observatory, the area typically experiences dozens of hail events each year. The financial toll of these storms is substantial. A recent report from Insurance Business magazine noted that hailstorm damage in Alberta has totaled more than C$6 billion ($4.3 billion) over the last five years, a figure that does not include the damages from this recent event.
For some residents, this storm was another devastating blow. Reports indicated that some of the people affected were still in the process of recovering from a similar severe hail event that occurred in July.
Improving Storm Prediction
The significant impact of these storms has spurred efforts to improve forecasting and mitigation. Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center are actively working on methods to better predict these damaging storms in advance.
Benjamin Scarino, a research scientist at the center, explained the role of satellite data in this effort.
"With state-of-the-art identification techniques, we can quantify severe storm distribution and frequency with an exceptional level of consistency that's only granted by satellite measurements. Long-term satellite data records allow us to provide the reinsurance industry, project partners, and the research community with valuable insights into severe storm activity and risk."
By leveraging advanced satellite technology and long-term data, scientists hope to provide more accurate warnings. Improved prediction capabilities could help communities prepare for severe weather, potentially reducing property damage and protecting lives in vulnerable regions like Alberta's hailstorm alley.