Windstorm whips up debris, traffic woes in Calgary

Calgary was walloped by wind gusts that downed power lines and sent debris flying Tuesday, as a weather system howled across large swaths of the province.

Winds gusting as high as 130 km/hwere pounding parts of southernand central Alberta on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada.

• Evacuations ordered in Alberta, Saskatchewan due to grass fires
• Wildfire in Crowsnest Pass still rages as others in southern Alberta under control

The agency said a strong low pressure system was moving through Alberta and into Saskatchewan, with the strongest gusts hitting the foothills before slowing somewhat as the wind moved across the Prairies.

On Tuesday afternoon, power was out in several Calgary neighbourhoods, and power lines were downed in several areas.

Social media was also alight with reportings of vehicles being blown off the road, like the tweet of Riversdale Hey who said he'd "seen seven trailers flipped between Airdrie and Leduc. Lost a visor ... to boot."

Tom Sampson, the head of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said some traffic lights were out and warned drivers to pay attention at intersections.

Stephen Avenue, between Second Street and Third Street S.W., was closed due to glass crashing to the ground from a tower.

"Some of the calls that we're attending involveone is a brush fire but with this wind it could move very quickly. We're responding to calls for debris on the road, for downed power lines, for downed branches and downed trees that are impacting people's safety," said Calgary Fire Department spokeswomanCarol Henke.

She said the fire department was dealing with 33 incidents around 4:30 p.m. MT.

Sampson said winds were expected to diminish around 9 p.m. and warned citizens to stay inside.

"It's not a great time to go out and look at the wind and watch your neighbour's trampoline fly over the fence, that sort of thing," he said.

Social media posts showed some of the damage and traffic problemsacross the city.

Gusts of 100 km/h were expected across southern Alberta, including Calgary.

Outside the city, there were reports of downed power lines and a semi that rolled over on Highway 3, just west of Highway 509 near Lethbridge, due to the winds. Traffic in the area is down to a single lane, according to Alberta 511.

Winds had also whipped up wildfires in several areas and led to evacuations in Coleman, Airdrie, Gleichen, Hilda, Empress, Acadia Valley, Willow Creek,

• Airdrie grass fire prompts evacuation as high winds push flames toward homes
• Residents of Coleman ordered to evacuate as wildfire threatens town

Central regions around Edmonton were expected to see gusts up to 100 km/has the system heads east toward Lloydminster, accompanied by thunderstorms.

The winds are expected to diminish overnight, according to Environment Canada.

A warning issued by the agency said the winds could damage buildings and could send loose objects flying. It also cautions drivers to be cautious.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Former Lethbridge teacher pleads guilty to making, distributing child pornography
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |1st woman appointed chief justice of Alberta Court of Queen's Bench