A severe weather expert has raised concerns about the radar system in Alberta after the weather radar covering Calgary was down during some heavy-hitting storms.

"If you would be at Environment Canada and you have to assess whether you give a severe weather warning in the summer, you certainly would like a weather radar in the vicinity of where you have to forecast," said Gerhard Reuter, a professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta.

Large areas of the province have been under several tornado watches or warnings this summer.

Last week, hailstorms knocked out power, blew off roofs and uprooted trees in parts of the city. The extreme weather caused traffic chaos too after flash flooding on some roads and underpasses.

$134M announced for weather infrastructure

Hail fell in the southwest Calgary neighbourhood of Woodlands. (Anastassia Martynova)

The 14-year-old weather radar that covers Calgary was not functioning during some of the storms.

The current radar system is adequate for monitoring storms, but it's not very precise when it comes to tracking hail and tornadoes, says Reuter.

"I think it would be good if they could be improved and allow the weather forecasters to make timely weather warnings and weather watches," he said.

Earlier this year, Environment Canada announced $134 million for weather infrastructure.

It will be distributed across the country over the next 10 years.