Banff Cleans Up After Overnight Windstorm

What’s Happening? Banff residents spent Monday morning (Nov. 10) cleaning up after a powerful overnight windstorm tore through the town, snapping trees, damaging homes, and blocking roads. The storm was part of a broad system that swept across southern Alberta, prompting Environment Canada to issue widespread wind warnings.

Winds Gone Wild. Gusts peaked at 115 km/h in parts of the province, particularly along the Foothills and into the Lethbridge area. In Banff, fallen trees crushed fences and blocked residential streets, while crews worked through the morning to clear debris. Fire Chief Keri Martens urged residents to remain cautious around weakened trees and to listen for “strange noises” that might signal another one ready to fall.

Across the South. Calgary saw gusts near 90 km/h, strong enough to cause scattered power outages and make highway driving difficult for large vehicles. In Lethbridge, wind speeds were among the highest recorded in the province, while Edmonton experienced milder 50 km/h gusts that did not trigger warnings.

Warm but Worrisome. The storm arrived with temperatures more fitting for April than November. Lethbridge reached 17°C, Calgary 14°C, and Edmonton 10°C, part of a warm air mass that pushed across the Prairies. In Banff, early-season skiers traded snow for rain.

Looking Ahead. Environment Canada expects similar Chinook-driven gusts are possible again later this month as warm Pacific air continues to clash with cooler Arctic systems over the Rockies.