"Intense" lightning storm wakes up Alberta, 12,000+ strikes detected

There will likely be a lot of tired people across Alberta on Wednesday after an intense light show fired up before dawn

Strong thunderstorms roared through parts of Alberta late Tuesday afternoon and evening, prompting Environment Canada to issue a swath of severe thunderstorm watches and warnings, as large storm cells swept east from the foothills bringing heavy downpours and toonie sized hail.

MUST READ: Severe thunderstorm threat shifts east on the Prairies

That risk for strong storms continued right through the overnight and into the early morning hours on Wednesday as well, when Twitter erupted with posts on the "absolutely crazy lightning show," including in the city of Calgary.

"Being rudely awakened by lightning and thunder in Calgary this morning!," The Weather Network's Kyle Brittain tweeted.

Between the late evening hours on Tuesday and around 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning, more than 12,000 lightning strikes had been detected with roughly 4,000 of those strikes in southern Alberta alone.

No alarm clock needed here. Wow!

ALBERTA AWAKES TO INTENSE LIGHTNING SHOW

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Leduc, Alberta: Courtesy

EdmontonLightning

Edmonton, Alberta: Courtesy

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WATCH BELOW: AMAZING STORM AND HUGE SLOW MOTION LIGHTNING