Severe thunderstorms that tracked across Alberta brought hail, heavy rain, whipping winds, and lightning throughout Thursday evening. During the storms social media users captured the stunning weather and shared images of a hail shaft, which is found underneath a convective storm when an abundance of hail is falling from the storm.

Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯#yycweather #ABstorm @CTVdavidspence pic.twitter.com/Hkqu1I6HfO

Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯Susan Perry on Twitter: "Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯#yycweather #ABstorm @CTVdavidspence pic.twitter.com/Hkqu1I6HfO / Twitter" Susan Perry on Twitter: "Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯#yycweather #ABstorm @CTVdavidspence pic.twitter.com/Hkqu1I6HfO / Twitter" Susan Perry on Twitter: "Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯#yycweather #ABstorm @CTVdavidspence pic.twitter.com/Hkqu1I6HfO / Twitter" Susan Perry on Twitter: "Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯#yycweather #ABstorm @CTVdavidspence pic.twitter.com/Hkqu1I6HfO / Twitter"

— Susan Perry (@LovesToWine) Susan Perry on Twitter: "Crazy looking cloud out by Heritage Point. 😯#yycweather #ABstorm @CTVdavidspence pic.twitter.com/Hkqu1I6HfO / Twitter"

Hail shafts are not uncommon, however, what makes this hail shaft spectacular is how visible it is, as normally it would be surrounded by rain which would obscure it.

The recent above-seasonal temperatures have been the perfect fuel for storm development in parts of central and southern Alberta, along with high instability and wind shear, which support the formation of thunderstorms. The storms are expected to track towards southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba through Friday.

See below for the stormy weather that tracked through Alberta:

Captured in Silverado Plains Close, Calgary, AB. Credit: Joe Mendoza

Storms north of Three Hills producing very strong wind gusts 346PM #abstorm pic.twitter.com/EAidWawbtR

Storms north of Three Hills producing very strong wind gusts 346PM Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "Storms north of Three Hills producing very strong wind gusts 346PM #abstorm pic.twitter.com/EAidWawbtR / Twitter" Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "Storms north of Three Hills producing very strong wind gusts 346PM #abstorm pic.twitter.com/EAidWawbtR / Twitter"

— Kyle Brittain (@KyleTWN) Kyle Brittain on Twitter: "Storms north of Three Hills producing very strong wind gusts 346PM #abstorm pic.twitter.com/EAidWawbtR / Twitter"

Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm #abstorm @TwistedChasers @KyleTWN pic.twitter.com/TGxGCs8iFv

Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉
Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm Dan Madden on Twitter: "Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm #abstorm @TwistedChasers @KyleTWN pic.twitter.com/TGxGCs8iFv / Twitter" Dan Madden on Twitter: "Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm #abstorm @TwistedChasers @KyleTWN pic.twitter.com/TGxGCs8iFv / Twitter" Dan Madden on Twitter: "Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm #abstorm @TwistedChasers @KyleTWN pic.twitter.com/TGxGCs8iFv / Twitter" Dan Madden on Twitter: "Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm #abstorm @TwistedChasers @KyleTWN pic.twitter.com/TGxGCs8iFv / Twitter"

— Dan Madden (@DanMaddenWX) Dan Madden on Twitter: "Dashcams can be useful tool for stormchasing when you forget to timelapse. 😉Crossfield storm, Looking west 4:15pm #abstorm @TwistedChasers @KyleTWN pic.twitter.com/TGxGCs8iFv / Twitter"

Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan

Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter" Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter" Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter" Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter" Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter" Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter"

— Dar Tanner (@dartanner) Dar Tanner on Twitter: "Near Delia highway 9 facing SW at 5:05pm minutes ago #teamtanner #abstorm #abwx @treetanner @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/rRKyOirIan / Twitter"

East of dewinton by cottonwood golf course. 5:23pm #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rpI9QSCQ1v

East of dewinton by cottonwood golf course. 5:23pm Big Time Kyle on Twitter: "East of dewinton by cottonwood golf course. 5:23pm #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rpI9QSCQ1v / Twitter" Big Time Kyle on Twitter: "East of dewinton by cottonwood golf course. 5:23pm #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rpI9QSCQ1v / Twitter"

— Big Time Kyle (@btk_weather) Big Time Kyle on Twitter: "East of dewinton by cottonwood golf course. 5:23pm #abstorm pic.twitter.com/rpI9QSCQ1v / Twitter"

How's your gardens, South Calgary? #abstorm #yycweather pic.twitter.com/DZbC2M0Rqy

How’s your gardens, South Calgary? Neil Zeller on Twitter: "How's your gardens, South Calgary? #abstorm #yycweather pic.twitter.com/DZbC2M0Rqy / Twitter" Neil Zeller on Twitter: "How's your gardens, South Calgary? #abstorm #yycweather pic.twitter.com/DZbC2M0Rqy / Twitter" Neil Zeller on Twitter: "How's your gardens, South Calgary? #abstorm #yycweather pic.twitter.com/DZbC2M0Rqy / Twitter"

— Neil Zeller (@Neil_Zee) Neil Zeller on Twitter: "How's your gardens, South Calgary? #abstorm #yycweather pic.twitter.com/DZbC2M0Rqy / Twitter"

9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB

9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ on Twitter: "9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB / Twitter" ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ on Twitter: "9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB / Twitter" ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ on Twitter: "9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB / Twitter" ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ on Twitter: "9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB / Twitter" ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ on Twitter: "9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB / Twitter"

— ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ (@treetanner) ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴀɴɴᴇʀ on Twitter: "9 Km West of Big Valley now facing west #abstorm #abwx #teamtanner @dartanner pic.twitter.com/D65aRodoKB / Twitter"

Big scud bomb along the shelf cloud at Cross Iron Mills Mall at Balzac #abstorm pic taken by Myles Cronkhite pic.twitter.com/fsvyvIfgaI

Big scud bomb along the shelf cloud at Cross Iron Mills Mall at Balzac Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Big scud bomb along the shelf cloud at Cross Iron Mills Mall at Balzac #abstorm pic taken by Myles Cronkhite pic.twitter.com/fsvyvIfgaI / Twitter" pic taken by Myles Cronkhite Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Big scud bomb along the shelf cloud at Cross Iron Mills Mall at Balzac #abstorm pic taken by Myles Cronkhite pic.twitter.com/fsvyvIfgaI / Twitter"

— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokisewx) Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Big scud bomb along the shelf cloud at Cross Iron Mills Mall at Balzac #abstorm pic taken by Myles Cronkhite pic.twitter.com/fsvyvIfgaI / Twitter"

View of the severe thunderstorm from SW Calgary that hail shaft #abstorm pic taken by Jerico Palileo pic.twitter.com/nQkJSRmoex

View of the severe thunderstorm from SW Calgary that hail shaft Brandon Houck on Twitter: "View of the severe thunderstorm from SW Calgary that hail shaft #abstorm pic taken by Jerico Palileo pic.twitter.com/nQkJSRmoex / Twitter" pic taken by Jerico Palileo Brandon Houck on Twitter: "View of the severe thunderstorm from SW Calgary that hail shaft #abstorm pic taken by Jerico Palileo pic.twitter.com/nQkJSRmoex / Twitter"

— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokisewx) Brandon Houck on Twitter: "View of the severe thunderstorm from SW Calgary that hail shaft #abstorm pic taken by Jerico Palileo pic.twitter.com/nQkJSRmoex / Twitter"

Time lapse of storm rolling over Brooks right now. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/QsCzWCO2eZ

Time lapse of storm rolling over Brooks right now. Chris Graham on Twitter: "Time lapse of storm rolling over Brooks right now. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/QsCzWCO2eZ / Twitter" Chris Graham on Twitter: "Time lapse of storm rolling over Brooks right now. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/QsCzWCO2eZ / Twitter"

— Chris Graham (@cgphotography) Chris Graham on Twitter: "Time lapse of storm rolling over Brooks right now. #abstorm pic.twitter.com/QsCzWCO2eZ / Twitter"

Severe Thunderstorm over North Calgary pic taken by Kassidy Kilthau #abstorm pic.twitter.com/yZthkvNnAp

Severe Thunderstorm over North Calgary pic taken by Kassidy Kilthau Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Severe Thunderstorm over North Calgary pic taken by Kassidy Kilthau #abstorm pic.twitter.com/yZthkvNnAp / Twitter" Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Severe Thunderstorm over North Calgary pic taken by Kassidy Kilthau #abstorm pic.twitter.com/yZthkvNnAp / Twitter"

— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokisewx) Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Severe Thunderstorm over North Calgary pic taken by Kassidy Kilthau #abstorm pic.twitter.com/yZthkvNnAp / Twitter"

North of Olds, AB 4:00pmTaken by our chaser Shannon P. #abstorm #shearwx pic.twitter.com/g1xtC9fLYb

North of Olds, AB
4:00pm
Taken by our chaser Shannon P. Shear WX on Twitter: "North of Olds, AB 4:00pmTaken by our chaser Shannon P. #abstorm #shearwx pic.twitter.com/g1xtC9fLYb / Twitter" Shear WX on Twitter: "North of Olds, AB 4:00pmTaken by our chaser Shannon P. #abstorm #shearwx pic.twitter.com/g1xtC9fLYb / Twitter" Shear WX on Twitter: "North of Olds, AB 4:00pmTaken by our chaser Shannon P. #abstorm #shearwx pic.twitter.com/g1xtC9fLYb / Twitter"

— Shear WX (@ShearWx) Shear WX on Twitter: "North of Olds, AB 4:00pmTaken by our chaser Shannon P. #abstorm #shearwx pic.twitter.com/g1xtC9fLYb / Twitter"

Calgary weather is wild y'all #abstorm #yyc pic.twitter.com/RlOtDqcona

Calgary weather is wild y’all DrewStew, the Loathsome Dungeater on Twitter: "Calgary weather is wild y'all #abstorm #yyc pic.twitter.com/RlOtDqcona / Twitter" DrewStew, the Loathsome Dungeater on Twitter: "Calgary weather is wild y'all #abstorm #yyc pic.twitter.com/RlOtDqcona / Twitter" DrewStew, the Loathsome Dungeater on Twitter: "Calgary weather is wild y'all #abstorm #yyc pic.twitter.com/RlOtDqcona / Twitter"

— DrewStew, the Loathsome Dungeater (@skinkybob) DrewStew, the Loathsome Dungeater on Twitter: "Calgary weather is wild y'all #abstorm #yyc pic.twitter.com/RlOtDqcona / Twitter"

Wicked lightning strike NW of Brooks earlier this evening #abstorm pic.twitter.com/YhOSxvcGnE

Wicked lightning strike NW of Brooks earlier this evening Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Wicked lightning strike NW of Brooks earlier this evening #abstorm pic.twitter.com/YhOSxvcGnE / Twitter" Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Wicked lightning strike NW of Brooks earlier this evening #abstorm pic.twitter.com/YhOSxvcGnE / Twitter"

— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokisewx) Brandon Houck on Twitter: "Wicked lightning strike NW of Brooks earlier this evening #abstorm pic.twitter.com/YhOSxvcGnE / Twitter"

About pea size hail west of #Brooks #abstorm pic.twitter.com/at9LuAsywb

About pea size hail west of Brandon Houck on Twitter: "About pea size hail west of #Brooks #abstorm pic.twitter.com/at9LuAsywb / Twitter" Brandon Houck on Twitter: "About pea size hail west of #Brooks #abstorm pic.twitter.com/at9LuAsywb / Twitter" Brandon Houck on Twitter: "About pea size hail west of #Brooks #abstorm pic.twitter.com/at9LuAsywb / Twitter"

— Brandon Houck (@HouckisPokisewx) Brandon Houck on Twitter: "About pea size hail west of #Brooks #abstorm pic.twitter.com/at9LuAsywb / Twitter"

WATCH BELOW: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT CONTINUES FRIDAY ACROSS SASKATCHEWAN