River levels in Calgary are expected to reach their peak sometime Tuesday as crews continue to monitor ongoing rainfall. While significant precipitation has been recorded across the region, officials have stated that overland flooding is not anticipated.
Rising River Flows and Safety Advisories
Since Saturday, between 40 and 80 mm of rain has fallen across the city and the Bow and Elbow River catchments. An additional 70 mm of rain is expected to fall through mid-day Tuesday.
A boating advisory remains in effect as recent measurements captured river flows exceeding 360 m3/s, which is well above the 280 m3/s threshold for an advisory. On Monday afternoon, fire crews were called to Harvie Passage for a water rescue involving a group of kayakers, though officials confirmed that no rescue was ultimately required.
Anticipated river flows for this current weather event are expected to be less than a quarter of the peak amounts that occurred during the 2013 floods.
Mitigation and Infrastructure Impact
Cooler temperatures have helped moderate the situation by causing precipitation at higher elevations to fall as snow. The City of Calgary noted that this is reducing the severity of streamflow runoff by slowing alpine snowmelt.
To expand storage capacity, both the Glenmore Reservoir and TransAlta’s Ghost Reservoir are being lowered. These proactive measures, combined with over $1.3 billion in flood resilience investments made over the last 13 years, have helped eliminate more than 70 per cent of the damage potential seen in 2013.
The combination of strategic reservoir management and long-term infrastructure investment serves as a critical buffer, potentially preventing the widespread disruption seen in previous major flood events.
Current Pathway Closures
To ensure public safety, several pathway closures are currently in effect along the river systems:
- Elbow River: The 25 Avenue underpass, the CNR Bridge underpass, and MacLeod Trail (both north and south).
- Bow River: The north bank underpass at the Reconciliation Bridge, the Centre Street Bridge, and the Louise Bridge.
- Parks and Bridges: Bowmont Park pathways, the north channel bridge, the north bank pathway at the Calgary Zoo, the Baines Bridge underpass, and certain north side pathways at St. Patricks Island.
Looking Ahead
River flows are expected to continue rising before peaking on Tuesday. As the crest approaches, officials will likely maintain close monitoring of rainfall totals and streamflow to manage the ongoing weather event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are evacuations or major road closures expected?
No, evacuations, road or bridge closures, and the use of temporary flood barriers are not anticipated to be required.
Why is there a boating advisory in place?
The advisory is in effect because river flows are high and the water is described as cold, murky, and fast-moving, with risks of riverbank erosion.
How is the city managing the increased water volume?
The city is utilizing reservoir storage operations, such as lowering the Glenmore and Ghost reservoirs, and relying on $1.3 billion in flood resilience measures including pumping stations and stormwater outfall gates.
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