How truck-tipping winds can rival the strength of 10 grizzly bears
Truck-tipping gusts are common in the southern foothills of Alberta, where downsloping winds from the Rockies can reach strengths exceeding 100 km/h. These often lead to trouble for trucks on the roads.
Alberta is no stranger to intense winds. In fact, these gusts can be so forceful that they blow over transport trucks. Their strength has been compared to the force equivalency of 10 grizzly bears.
By definition, truck-tipping winds refer to gusts strong enough to topple trucks, literally. These strong winds are common in the southern foothills of Alberta, where downsloping winds from the Rockies can reach strengths exceeding 100 km/h. These often lead to trouble for trucks, depending on their weight and how strong the wind gust is.
Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network, says a 60 km/h wind gust can produce 16,000 newtons of force. But double it and you're looking at 50,000 newtons of force.
(Kyle Brittain/The Weather Network)
"It's not a big deal if your truck has a full load and is travelling on an east-to-west road like Highway 3. But a truck travelling north to south, that is very much exposed, and the equivalent of 5,000 kilograms of force on the side of that truck...the weight of 10 grizzly bears," said Hamilton.
Watch the video above The Weather Network meteorologist Tyler Hamilton for a full explanation on these powerful winds and how they can tip a truck over.