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After weeks of water-logged weather, communities in the Edmonton region and across central Alberta are once again bracing for another severe rainstorm.
Environment Canada had issued a series of rainfall warnings Friday morning, cautioning that between 40 to 70 mm of rain is expected to drench communities across the region this weekend.
The warnings are orange weather alerts, meaning the storm system is severe and is expected to cause major, widespread damages or disruptions including overland flooding.
The rainfall alerts are in effect for the City of Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St. Albert along with a band of central Albertan communities stretching from Fox Creek and Edson to Vermilion and Wainwright.
A series of severe thunderstorm watches have also been issued across northwestern areas of the province, warning that powerful lightning storms will likely bring strong winds, large hail and heavy rain to some communities Friday evening.
This June has been among the wettest on record for the Edmonton region. The most recent deluge last week triggered widespread flooding and a series of emergency alerts as municipal wastewater management systems across the region were pushed to capacity.
Residents in Edmonton and surrounding communities were urged to curb their non-essential water use as crews responded to flooded basements, sewer back-ups and washed out roads.
With the ground already saturated from the storm this past weekend and rainfall totals for the month of June well above normal, this weekend’s rain is likely to cause overland flooding, washouts and impacts to infrastructure and property, Environment Canada cautioned.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will begin Friday night and become a “broad area of heavy rain” by Saturday morning, officials said.
The rain is expected to continue through the weekend with the heaviest downpours expected on Saturday.
Drivers are reminded to avoid flooded roads and to closely monitor local weather updates.
The severe rains mean Edmonton is likely on the verge of breaking a 112-year-old rainfall record.
As of Monday, the city had received just over 200 mm of rain over the course of the month, matching the second-rainiest June recorded in 1965.
The wettest June on record was in 1914 when 216.5 mm of rain fell on the capital region.
Extreme heat in the province’s north
As central Alberta braces for rain, communities across the north remain in extreme heat.
A series of heat warnings remain in effect for communities across northern Alberta with scorching temperatures expected to continue into early next week.
Daytime highs between 29 C and 31 C, along with elevated overnight lows near 14 C, are forecast across the region.
Residents and visitors are advised to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets from the effects of heat exposure.
