A thunderstorm system travelling due east on July 18 made a dramatic stop in Cochrane at approximately 9:30 p.m., wreaking havoc in its path.
Environment Canada reported that the storm brought between 30 and 67 millimetres of rain, strong winds, pea-sized hail and flash flooding.
Just hours before its arrival, a visible division of light and dark skies could be seen from town. Its entrance was marked by dark clouds lit by streaks of lightning. Loud thunder echoed as the system passed through.
Soon after, residents began sharing photos and videos of the storm on social media.
“She sure came in fast,” one user posted on Facebook, alongside a photo of cloud formations engulfing the town.
“Scary,” another resident commented, sharing a video taken through a sliding door showing heavy rain and bright flashes of lightning.
Photos and videos showcased the power of the storm, which hit neighbourhoods including Sunset, Bow Ridge, Heartland and Heritage Hills.
While most videos were captured from the safety and comfort of residents’ homes, some were outdoors celebrating the second annual Bow Valley Boot Stomp.
The two-day country music festival kicked off Friday at 5 p.m., just hours before the storm hit.
“Due to the original forecast for the week, we made the decision to change the event layout on Monday,” said Boot Stomp organizer Kailey Mitchell. “As the weekend approached, it was clear the weather was less than ideal, but we weren't sure what exactly to expect.”
Festivities at the Cochrane Agricultural Society grounds proceeded as planned. A number of food trucks opened for guests to enjoy, a local market was set up indoors, and a community stage hosted a lineup of performers.
A separate main stage was arranged outdoors for additional acts, including both nights’ headliners.
“We were thrilled that Foxx Worthee was able to kick off the performances on the main stage,” said Mitchell. “As the weather approached, we were monitoring lightning strikes in the area, as the stage could not be used for 30 minutes after a close lightning strike.”
Unfortunately, the feared weather conditions arrived. The thunderstorm’s rain, wind and lightning forced a delay of more than an hour in scheduled performances.
“With tornado-like weather, we made the call to move the remaining two main stage performances into the barn on the community stage,” Mitchell said. “Even with the sudden adjustment, we’re happy all those set to perform were still able to.”
The Friday night thunderstorm emphasizes the increased precipitation July has been experiencing from its average. Environment Canada estimates that this week July will have seen nearly double the amount of rainfall it usually experiences for Calgary and area, including Cochrane.
As rainfall continues and water pools throughout developed areas, the Town of Cochrane reminds residents that localized flooding may result from installed “trap lows,” a feature in the town’s stormwater system designed to prevent water from reaching homes and foundations.
In areas still under development, stormwater infrastructure may not be fully operational and grading may be incomplete. Residents here can contact their developer directly for support.
“The Town works closely with developers to provide solutions for temporary storm management before rainfall occurs and to report issues as they arise,” the Town of Cochrane stated.
“Cochrane Roads crews are on call to respond to emergency drainage concerns and perform regular proactive maintenance to ensure the stormwater system is functioning properly.”
To help improve drainage during a storm, the town encourages residents to clear backyard swales of leaves or debris. If water remains on the street for more than 24 hours after rainfall ends, Cochrane Operations can be contacted at (403) 851-2590.
A map of all trap lows is available at cochrane.ca/traplows.
