Monday’s storm floods roads, halts traffic and transit across Edmonton

Another day, another storm.

Three waves of heavy rain blanketed the region Monday afternoon as a line of storm cells swept northeast across central Alberta.

Environment Canada said its meteorologists were tracking a group of strong storms capable of producing strong winds, ping-pong ball-sized hail and very heavy rain.

The first wave hit at 1:00 pm over south Edmonton and was moving northeast at 20-30 km/h. The second and third waves swept in over the next hour and a half, dropping enough rain to turn roads into rivers and lakes.

Reports of flooding came in from across Edmonton: streets under water in the Belgravia and University of Alberta area, as well as newer neighborhoods like Alces in the far southeast.

Transit was also affected after a tree fell on the Valley Line tracks south east in the Strathearn area, stopping the line between Holyrood and Muttart stops.

Edmonton Transit Service said the bus replacement was running between Bonnie Doon and downtown; however, it was slow going as flooding closed the interchange of Connors Hill and 98 Avenue in the river valley.

The city said as of 4 p.m. Valley Line and Route 500X replacement bus service are detoured and experiencing major delays. The city was working to find an alternative as soon as possible.

Buildings are also flooded.

At 1:30 p.m., Service Canada updated its website to say the passport office at Canada Place in downtown Edmonton was closed due to flooding and water damage. No other details were available as of publication.

Unprecedented rainy summer

Edmonton has experienced unprecedented rainfall this summer, the city said Monday.

According to Environment Canada, the city received a combined 511 millimeters of rain during June and July, which the city said is the highest volume since 1953.

Before Monday, 239.8 mm of rain had fallen in Edmonton so far in July. It comes after one a record amount of rain fell in June – over 260 mm – breaking a 112-year record.

Rainfall totals for Monday afternoon’s storm are not yet known.

The typical monthly average in summer is between 70 and 80 millimeters, with an average annual rainfall of 423 millimeters.

Nearly two months of several storms a week have left the groundwater table so saturated that more runoff than normal is entering the stormwater system — which it’s struggling to contain.

Last week, city-owned utility provider EPCOR said the region needs a long stretch of dry weather to allow its stormwater system to recover.

Recent flooding has affected major roads, including underpasses on Yellowhead Trail and Whitemud Drive, and led to sinkholes appearing across the city.

Monday’s rain is the latest in what has been a month of near-consecutive heavy storms, including one on Saturday night that dumped 30 millimeters of rain in about an hour.

That storm again closed Whitemud Drive west of Edmonton, where excess rainwater turned the highway into a lake under the Route 170 overpass.

Yellowhead Trail, Groat Road and Connors Road also flooded that night.

About 31,000 concertgoers attending the Post Malone show at Commonwealth Stadium were forced to camp after strong winds and sideways rain forced the concert to end early. Full refunds were given to all Saturday ticket holders.

The city said between Saturday night and Monday morning, crews responded to 341 reports of broken, hanging and downed trees or branches and that work continues. Since July 1, crews have responded to 2,256 storm-related issues, including downed trees and branches.

Edmonton Fire Rescue handled 252 calls for firefighter support between 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Saturday’s storm also forced the closure of Elk Island National Park, east of Edmonton. where Parks Canada said downed trees and flooding posed a danger to guests.

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