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 60 mm of rain so far this weekend, making this one of the city’s top-ten rainiest June days 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.
Stony Plain reported 113 mm of rain through 4:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, while Barrhead had picked up 83 mm of precipitation.
Municipal water concerns growing
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.