Calgary rainfall warning still in place, could end by Tuesday evening

A rainfall warning is still in place for Calgary and much of Alberta, but it could be lifted as early as Tuesday evening.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says between 40 and 120 millimetres has been reported across the province so far, with a few localized amounts of 135 mm in southwestern Alberta.

It says that, along with water pooling on roads and in low-lying areas, local utility outages are possible. The ECCC says not to drive through flooded roadways. Watch for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

According to ECCC meteorologist Heather Rombo, Calgary may see 5-10 mm throughout the day.

“The heaviest rain will be this morning and then it’ll gradually kind of weaken off through [Tuesday], and then just maybe have a chance of showers through tonight,” she told 660 NewsRadio.

Some pockets of eastern Alberta got as much as 150 mm of rain.

Additionally, the rainfall has been dousing wildfires raging throughout much of the province.

Information Officer Derek Forsyth tells 660 NewsRadio that at one point Monday afternoon, there were no out-of-control wildfires.

Closer to home, high stream flow advisories remain in place for the Bow and Elbow Rivers, which are expected to crest.

The Calgary Fire Department advises people to stay off riverbanks as water temperature remains cold and hazards can be difficult to see.

It also says the river flow rates are expected to peak Tuesday at around 480 cubic metres per second on the Bow and 100 cubic metres per second in the Elbow — double the threshold for a Bow advisory and triple the threshold for the Elbow.

However, the higher-than-normal water levels and flow rates today pale in comparison to the numbers Calgary witnessed in 2013, which were over 2,000 m3/s.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas has said the Glenmore Reservoir has also been lowered to make room for the rising flow of the Elbow River.

There may be reports of localized flooding and pooling on roads, but the city maintains that the risk of overland flooding is relatively low.

The high river flow season typically runs until the middle of July.

Calgary’s current conditions and extended forecast can be found here.