Power outages Alberta: strong winds cut power and hit voting
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Gusts up to 90 km/h hit northern and central Alberta on Wednesday.
- Wind cut power and closed two advance voting sites for part of the day.
- Voting resumed on Thursday, October 15, and winds were set to ease across Alberta.
Strong winds knocked out power in parts of Alberta on Wednesday, October 14. Gusts reached up to 90 km/h. The wind closed two advance voting sites for a time. Voting resumed on Thursday.
What happened
Environment Canada issued a wind warning for parts of northern and central Alberta. The agency sent a yellow level weather alert at 8:45 a.m.
on Wednesday. A yellow alert means people should stay aware and take care.
The warning said strong westerly winds would develop near noon. They would start in the Slave Lake and Swan Hills regions of northern Alberta. Then the winds would move southeast through the day.
They would reach the Lloydminster area by early evening. After that, the winds would weaken through the night.
Gusts of up to 90 km/h were expected in the warned areas. That is fast enough to push tall vehicles. Tall vehicles include trucks, buses, and trailers.
The agency said drivers should adapt to changing road conditions. It also told residents to secure loose objects. Loose objects include bins, chairs, and yard items.
The warning asked people to prepare for possible disruptions. Disruptions could hit travel, services, and utilities.
The agency set the impact level at moderate. A moderate wind event can bring minor travel delays. Debris and outages can slow trips.
It can also bring short-term utility outages. Larger tree branches can break. Yard items can blow about.
Flying or falling debris can cause injury. Outdoor events can face postponement or cancellation.
The winds did cause a real power outage on Wednesday. Elections Alberta said high winds caused the outage. It hit the Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock electoral division.
The outage closed two advance voting sites. One was the Athabasca Seniors Centre in Athabasca. The other was the Returning Office at 4714 50 Street in Clyde.
The outage started around 2:00 p.m. Elections Alberta expected power back by 4:30 p.
m. Staff closed both voting locations. They secured all voting materials, ballot boxes, and ballots.
They posted a notice on the doors of both sites. Voters were asked to return when power came back. When power returned, both sites would reopen.
They would stay open past 8:00 p.m. They would stay open for the same amount of time they were closed.
That plan gave voters their lost time back.
The Weather Network reported that the winds would ease across Alberta that night. A cold front pushed east across the Prairies. Gusts would drop below 70 km/h in Edmonton after 9 p.
m. Gusts would drop below 70 km/h in Lloydminster after midnight. The winds could push high-sided vehicles around.
They could also cause isolated power outages. Northern Alberta would see showers. Some snow was possible over higher terrain.
Why it matters
Power cuts hit daily life fast. Lights go out. Fridges stop.
Phones cannot charge. Work stops. For some homes, heat stops too.
A short outage is a nuisance. A long outage is a real problem. Wind outages often come with blocked roads.
Crews then need more time to reach damage.
This outage also hit voting. Alberta was in advance voting for a provincial referendum. Many voters plan to vote early.
A closed site can turn voters away. Some voters may not return. Elections Alberta moved fast to protect ballots.
Staff secured the boxes and materials. They posted clear notices. They promised extra hours.
Those steps kept the vote fair.
Travel was also at risk. Strong gusts can push tall vehicles sideways. Drivers need both hands on the wheel.
They need more space from other cars. They need lower speeds in open areas. Loose items can fly into roads.
Fallen branches can block lanes. Downed lines can close roads. The warning asked drivers to adapt.
That is simple advice. It still saves lives.
Wind can knock out power in many places. Kansas City saw power outages during a storm watch too. The cause differs from place to place.
The result feels the same. Lights go out with little warning. A plan helps.
Keep phones charged before a storm. Keep a flashlight close. Know where your breaker box sits.
When power returns, check your home with care. If your power comes back and then trips, a circuit breaker may need a check. Do not touch a breaker with wet hands.
Do not touch a line on the ground. Call your power company for downed lines. Let crews do the fix.
What happens next
Elections Alberta said voting would resume on Thursday, October 15. Both sites would reopen. The Athabasca Seniors Centre would open again. The Returning Office in Clyde would open again.
Normal operations would resume on Thursday.
Five electors were served once power resumed on Wednesday. Staff then closed the site for the evening. They used the time to test equipment.
They tested connectivity and data. That check made sure Thursday would run well.
The winds were set to ease across Alberta. The cold front would keep moving east. Gusts would strengthen across the Prairies.
Saskatchewan would see gusts up to 60 km/h. Stronger gusts up to 80 km/h were expected in southern Saskatchewan around midday Thursday. Southern and central Manitoba would see northerly gusts up to 70 km/h on Thursday afternoon.
Winds would ease there overnight.
A ridge of high pressure would bring sunny skies to parts of the Prairies. Temperatures would sit above seasonal norms. That calmer spell would help crews.
It would help voters too. It would help drivers on open roads.
If you live in a warned area, keep watching local updates. Check your power company for outage news. Check Elections Alberta for voting hours.
Secure loose items before the next gust. Drive with care on open roads. The storm has passed.
The clean-up and the catch-up now follow.
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