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Flood Watches and High Streamflow Advisories in Alberta as Heavy Rain Looms

Heavy rain forecast on top of rapid mountain snowmelt raises the risk of significant river rises, pathway closures, boating advisories, avalanche danger, localized washouts.

Rising waters, caused by unseasonably warm temperatures, has prompted a high streamflow advisory to be issued for the Bow River in Banff National Park.
A warning sign along the banks of the Old Man River in Lethbridge warning of the danger in the waters.
Emergency officials in British Columbia are warning of flooding along the Columbia River in the southeastern corner of the province bordering Alberta. Water is pumped out from a flooded home near the Bonaparte River as sandbags line a sidewalk in Cache Creek, B.C., on Sunday, May 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A vehicle passes through a flooded intersection as residents begin cleaning up in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, June 14, 2020, after a major hailstorm damaged homes and flooded streets on Saturday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Overview

  • Rivers.alberta.ca has posted a flood watch for the Pipestone River at Lake Louise and a high streamflow advisory for the Bow River from upstream of Banff downstream to Ghost Reservoir, with debris already seen in channels.
  • Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Saturday forecasting 50–100 millimetres of rain beginning Saturday night and continuing into early next week with some localized amounts above 100 mm.
  • The Town of Banff and Parks Canada have deployed temporary flood barriers, closed or flagged low‑lying trails, and warned visitors to stay away from riverbanks and avalanche‑prone backcountry areas.
  • Municipalities including Calgary and Lethbridge are preparing pathway and underpass closures, boating advisories and public alerts while urging residents to secure drains and avoid rivers; evacuations remain possible in localized spots.
  • Officials say the risk is driven by an unusually large mountain snowpack that has melted quickly under warm temperatures and that the province is ready to assist; current risk is not judged to match the 2013 floods but localized severe impacts remain possible.