Anatolii Savitskii/Dreamstime

By Jesse Gill

SEVERE WEATHER

Storm through Brooks area causes damage Wednesday night, delays on Trans Canada

Aug 21, 2025 | 10:11 AM

Early Wednesday evening, Environment Canada said a fast-moving supercell tracked across southern Alberta bringing significant, damaging wind gusts and loonie to golf ball sized hail.

The wind and hail caused damage to property and trees.

According to power provider Fortis Alberta, there were multiple power outages in Newell and Vulcan counties.

According to Alberta 511, Highway 1 was closed between Brooks and Bassano due to multiple collisions and downed power lines.

Metal power lines flattened trees, and power poles snapped, and damage to irrigation pivots was reported near Brooks.

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There have been no tornado reports from this severe thunderstorm as oF Thursday morning.

Wind gust measurements, as of 10 p.m Wednesday night were over 100 km/h in multiple areas.

East of Jenner, Atlee hit 149 and Buffalo was at 121.

East of Bassano, Lathom saw 127.

Brooks and Patricia were both at 113.

Brooks RCMP had advised in a release shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday there were many road closures on Aug. 20 as a result of the severe storm.

As of early Thursday morning, it was only advised on Alberta 511 that a downed powerline pole was causing traffic delays.

North and southbound, Highway 36 at Highway 1 and west of Brooks is open with speed reduced due to de-energized power lines on the highway.

Westbound Highway 1 was open with one-lane traffic with speed reduction to 50 km/h.

Both eastbound lanes on Highway 1 remain closed early this morning with Highway 36 as a detour.

Wednesday night, Mounties said there were many vehicles disabled on roads and downed power lines.

Highway 36 at Highway 1, east and westbound lanes, were not passable at that time.

It had been suggested that travellers take Highway 876 north and Highway 544 west to get around the city.

At the time, RCMP had advised to not go southbound on Highway 36 to Highway 1 as they had said it was not passable.

Check 511 Alberta for the latest road condition updates.

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services said there were some tree branches that fell onto power lines on Wednesday in Medicine Hat, but nothing major.

Environment and Climate Change Canada had posted several severe thunderstorm warnings Wednesday night that stretched from the Calgary area through to Winnipeg.

At one point, a tornado warning was triggered in and around Saskatoon.

Significantly sized hail was reported along the storm front, ranging in size from a nickel to a toonie.