Calgary Airport Faces Major Cleanup After Severe Storm

The Calgary International Airport was hit hard by a severe storm that brought about hail and heavy rainfall, causing significant water damage in the terminal on Monday night.

As of Tuesday, the airport reported that the B and C gates were closed, but other gates were still operational for flights. The water damage on the B gates is currently being assessed, and they’re unsure when it will reopen. The airport authority advised guests to check with their airlines for flight updates.

Quinn White, a traveler headed back to Campbell River, B.C. after attending the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, described her experience in the terminal as she witnessed water pouring from the ceiling. She shared videos on social media showing water dripping and pieces of ceiling tile falling.

While the situation was chaotic with about 100 passengers standing around, it took a while for the airport staff to provide instructions. White recounted that the fire alarm went off at one point, adding to the uncertainty.

As ongoing assessments of the storm’s impact continue, some services, like the rental car center, have been affected. However, all rental companies are available to assist travelers from the P1 parkade.

The storm prompted severe thunderstorm warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada, highlighting strong winds and significant hail reported in the area. Reports indicated that some hailstones were the size of hen eggs.

Brittany Kennedy, a storm chaser, noted this storm was one of the most impressive she’d encountered, with many reports of damage to property and vehicles throughout the city.

In light of the damage, the Insurance Bureau of Canada mentioned that such severe weather events are becoming more frequent in Alberta, raising concerns about future events.