TOTALS: A month’s worth of rain swamps central Alberta
Some areas saw more than 100 mm of rain this weekend, leading to localized flooding and municipal water concerns
The summer solstice arrived Sunday with a disruptive, high-end rainfall event in parts of Alberta.
Some areas around Edmonton saw more than 100 mm of rain. Several communities in the region issued municipal water alerts due to the overwhelming runoff.
DON’T MISS: Central Alberta municipalities order stop to non-essential water use
One of the rainiest June days on record
A stalled low-pressure system on the Prairies fed a continuous stream of moisture over central Alberta, drenching the region with a prolonged heavy rainfall event.
Widespread totals of 50-100 mm fell throughout central Alberta during this storm.
Edmonton International Airport picked up 63.8 mm of rain on Sunday, making it the city’s fourth-rainiest June day on record. Weather records in downtown Edmonton date back to the early 1880s.
Putting that impressive total into perspective, the airport averages about 74 mm of precipitation during the entire month of June. In fact, with about 190 mm of rainfall recorded so far this June, this has become the second-wettest June for the city on record--and there's still one more week to go!
Nearby, Stony Plain reported 123 mm of rain by midnight local time on Monday, while Barrhead had picked up 88 mm of precipitation.
Municipal water concerns growing
Flooding has been reported across parts of the metro Edmonton area from this event.
Several municipalities around Edmonton asked residents to conserve water as wastewater systems struggled to handle the runoff from this extreme rainfall event.
“Residents of Beaumont, Leduc County and St. Albert are urged to cease all non-essential water use immediately until further notice and to refrain from showering, flushing toilets and using laundry machines and dishwashers,” CBC news reported on Sunday afternoon.
Residents on social media also reported localized flooding and ponding throughout the region, as well as leaks intruding into homes due to standing water.
The City of Edmonton posted on X that officials closed a pedestrian bridge in the northwestern side of the city due to erosion beneath the bridge’s support columns.