The winds were howling past my office window yesterday afternoon, and like many Calgarians, I watched with growing concern as the summer storm escalated from mere dark clouds to something far more threatening. What unfolded was one of the more intense weather events we’ve seen in recent years.
Standing in Bridgeland this morning, I observed dozens of residents clearing broken branches and debris from their properties. The damage is extensive across multiple neighborhoods, with the city’s emergency services still responding to calls related to yesterday’s violent weather system.
“I’ve lived here for twenty years and haven’t seen winds like that since the 2013 floods,” said Marjorie Clements, 68, whose backyard fence was crushed by a neighbor’s fallen elm tree. “The sound was something else – like a freight train.”
According to Environment Canada, wind gusts reached speeds of up to 100 km/h during the peak of the storm. Calgary Emergency Management Agency confirmed they received over 250 calls related to fallen trees, power outages, and property damage in just three hours.
The hardest-hit areas appear to be communities in Calgary’s northwest and northeast quadrants. Walking through Huntington Hills this morning, I counted at least seven large trees completely uprooted, with countless others missing substantial limbs. Cleanup crews from the City of Calgary were already on scene by 7 a.m., their chainsaws providing the morning’s soundtrack.
City Councillor Terry Wong told me the Parks Department has called in additional staff to handle the volume of tree-related incidents. “We’re prioritizing clearing roadways and addressing immediate safety hazards first,” Wong explained as we watched crews working on Centre Street. “But the complete cleanup effort will likely take weeks.”
Power was knocked out for approximately 15,000 Calgary homes during the storm, with some neighborhoods in the northeast still without electricity as of this morning. ENMAX crews have been working through the night, with company spokesperson Jennifer Evans assuring residents that service should be fully restored by end of day.
What’s particularly notable about yesterday’s storm was its isolated intensity. While southern areas of the city saw moderate rainfall, northern communities experienced severe wind damage and even hail in some locations. This pattern of highly localized severe weather has become increasingly common in recent years, a trend that meteorologist Dave Phillips from Environment Canada suggests may be linked to climate change effects on Alberta’s weather patterns.
The financial impact will be significant. Walking through Beddington yesterday evening, I spoke with homeowner Craig Matheson who was surveying his damaged roof where shingles had been torn away. “Insurance will cover it, but my deductible is $1,000,” he said. “That’s money I hadn’t planned on spending this month.”
The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that severe weather events in Alberta have caused over $4 billion in insured damage since 2016, with Calgary bearing a substantial portion of those losses. Yesterday’s storm will add to that growing total.
For those requiring assistance with storm cleanup, the City of Calgary has established a temporary hotline at 311 to coordinate resources. Priority is being given to seniors and those with mobility challenges who need help clearing debris.
Community spirit is evident throughout affected areas. In Thorncliffe, I watched as neighbors formed impromptu cleanup brigades, moving systematically from one damaged property to the next. Sarah Livingston, who organized one such group, told me, “This is what Calgarians do – we help each other when things get tough.”
The Calgary Emergency Management Agency recommends residents document all damage thoroughly for insurance purposes before beginning cleanup. They also warn people to exercise caution around downed power lines and unstable trees that may still pose hazards.
Looking ahead, Environment Canada forecasts calmer weather for the coming week, giving cleanup crews favorable conditions to address the aftermath. City officials expect most public spaces to be cleared and secured by the weekend, though private property cleanup may take considerably longer.
As Calgary picks up the pieces from yesterday’s storm, the resilience I’ve documented in this community through numerous challenges over the years is once again on display. Whether it’s floods, economic downturns, or damaging winds – this city’s capacity to recover remains one of its defining characteristics.
