News Release
Update 2: Spring flooding (June 15 at 3:30 p.m.)
The water levels in most rivers flowing out of the foothills in central and southern Alberta have peaked or will be peaking soon.
Flood peaks in the major rivers are expected to move across the province over the remainder of the week. Flood mitigation infrastructure continues to hold and there has been no major flooding.
Current situation
The Government of Alberta continues to work directly with affected municipalities through the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.
A cold low system has brought heavy precipitation to much of central and southern Alberta. Since the morning of June 12, widespread areas of Alberta have received up to 30 millimetres of rain. Heavier amounts have been observed from areas just west of Sundre, west of Calgary and north of Pincher Creek. In this area of heavier precipitation, 80 millimetres to 100 millimetres was observed, with locally higher amounts of up to 160 millimetres west of Calgary. Some of the precipitation fell as snow along the eastern slopes. Lingering shower activity is possible on June 15.
On June 16, a further five millimetres to 20 millimetres of precipitation is possible across most of southern and central portions of the province, with locally higher amounts resulting from convective activity.
States of local emergency are still active in Calgary and the Municipal District of Bighorn.
Municipalities can request flood prevention equipment from the provincial flood stockpile by contacting the Provincial Operations Centre. The Provincial Operations Centre has not yet received any requests from municipalities for flood equipment from the provincial flood stockpile and has been in regular contact with municipalities through their directors of emergency management.
Municipalities have the ability and authority to source and procure flood equipment for their own or regional use from third party vendors as they identify their needs. Budget 2022 has a $1-billion contingency for disaster and emergency assistance.
River conditions
Environment and Parks’ River Forecast Centre continues to monitor river levels and update advisories, watches and warnings through rivers.alberta.ca and the Alberta Rivers app.
Oldman River Basin
Advisories:
Flood watch downgraded to a high streamflow advisory – Waterton Lake
Waterton Lake – Water levels are falling and are expected to continue to fall
Bow River Basin
Advisories:
Flood watch – Pipestone River
Red Deer River Basin
Advisories:
Flood warning – Little Red Deer River
Flood watch downgraded to a high streamflow advisory – Red Deer River and tributaries upstream of Gleniffer Reservoir
North Saskatchewan River Basin
Advisories:
Flood watch – Brazeau River, Ram River, Prairie Creek, Baptiste River, Nordegg River, Clearwater River
Road closures
Highway 40 will remain closed between Kananaskis Lake Trail and Highwood House/Highway 541 due to avalanche hazard in the Highwood Pass.
Highway 734 is closed near Seven Mile Flats because water is crossing the highway.
The Tay River has jumped and is running across Highway 591 at the Tay River provincial recreation area. Speed reduction is in place and posted on the 511 website.
Work continues on clearing brush and debris from under the Sheep River bridge at Black Diamond.
Parks closures
Visitors in affected campgrounds are being notified of severe weather and high water levels and should be prepared to evacuate on short notice.
Current Park closures include:
Bow River campground
Three Sisters campground
Crescent Falls provincial recreation area
Seven Mile provincial recreation area
Prairie Creek provincial recreation area
Tay River provincial recreation area
Medicine Lake provincial recreation area
Red Lodge Provincial Park
Strachan provincial recreation area
McKinnon Flats day-use area
access roads to Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
More information is available at albertaparks.ca.
How Albertans can help
Albertans who live in affected areas should look for updates from their local government regarding evacuations and closures and download the Alberta Emergency Alert app. For the latest information on river conditions, visit rivers.alberta.ca or download the Alberta Rivers app.
Additional information
The River Forecast Centre started 24-hour flood event operations at 6 a.m. on June 13 to monitor conditions, run flood forecasting models and update flood advisories.
Related information
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