Environment Canada issued torrential rain warnings Monday for most of southern Alberta, primarily in areas southeast and north of Calgary. It is expected to rain from Monday evening until Tuesday, with precipitation that could reach 50 to 70 millimeters.
The federal agency also says precipitation could total 80 mm.
This is huge for such a short period of time.
underlines Natalie Hasell, warning awareness meteorologist at Environment Canada.
The respite should only come from Wednesday.
Open in full screen mode
Environment Canada has issued torrential rain warnings for most of southern Alberta.
Photo: Environment Canada
Beware of floods and floods
Environment Canada is warning the public of the risks associated with heavy rains, which can lead to flash floods and accumulation of water on the roads.
Flooding is also possible in places, particularly in the lowlands, given the dry conditions prevailing in the south of the province. Very dry soil cannot absorb water quickly. In this case, it flows on the surface, and it is in these conditions that we see rapid flooding occurring.
explains Natalie Hasell.
Environment Canada therefore recommends that residents remain attentive, especially in places where the ground is subsided near rivers, streams and small bridges.
Good news for water reserves
The forecast rains could also alleviate the dry conditions that persist in these regions, as Natalie Hasell hopes. They could also help reduce the risk of forest fires in the province, which already had around sixty active blazes in mid-April.
Christine Rivard, hydrogeology researcher at Natural Resources Canada, notes that any rainy events can help alleviate drought conditions
especially in a province where groundwater levels are very low this year
.
This is good news up to a certain point, but to recharge the tablecloths [phréatiques]we are better with several events [de pluie] less strong and better distributed.
The specialist explains that the phenomenon of evapotranspiration is very important in summer in Alberta, which leads to a water deficit. The province generally records less than 600 mm of rainfall per year, compared to around 1000 mm in the east of the country.
So anything that comes as rain can help. The farmers will be very happy.
The groundwater specialist emphasizes, however, that the precipitation that arrives suddenly and intensely
result in much more runoff than water infiltrating into the ground.
With information from Édith Boisvert
