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Heavy Rain and Late Snowmelt Push Bow and Elbow Rivers to High Flows in Southern Alberta

Officials forecast river peaks early this week, with lowered reservoirs and recent flood upgrades reducing the risk of large-scale flooding.

Overview

  • City officials said river levels were expected to crest by Tuesday and warned that Calgary flows have exceeded the boating-advisory threshold of 280 m3/s with recent readings above 360 m3/s.
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a rainfall advisory for Calgary calling for 50 to 100 mm of rain with pockets over 100 mm and said the heavy rain will taper to showers with an additional 5 to 10 mm possible.
  • Municipal and utility operators lowered Glenmore and TransAlta’s Ghost reservoirs to create extra storage and deployed sandbags, pumps and a temporary dam device to protect vulnerable sites.
  • Canmore has reported localized flooding of commercial and residential structures that require continuous pumping, and Banff has closed low-lying trails and parks while staging protective measures without ordering evacuations.
  • Hydrologists and officials say current flows remain well below the 2013 flood peaks and that about $1.3 billion in post‑2013 flood investments in reservoirs, barriers and erosion protection have cut roughly 70% of the earlier damage potential.