EDMONTON – Alberta Environment declared Flood Watches for several stream basins northwest and south of Edmonton on Wednesday.
Flood Watches were declared for:
Red Deer Basin:
Threehills Creek
Knewwhills Creek
Athabasca Basin:
Paddle River
Little Paddle River
Connor Creek
Alberta Environment says that the “much above average snowpack combined with the above average temperatures over the past few days have caused the water levels in the creeks in Kneehills County to rise rapidly and overtop the banks in some locations.”
The government says the snowpack conditions in the Paddle basin are similar to last spring. That, plus the recent warm temperatures, has caused the water levels in the Paddle basin to rise quickly.
Alberta Environment predicts conditions similar to last spring in the Paddle basin when the Paddle River spilled over its banks in some locations, causing water to flow into the fields next to the river.
The River Forecast Centre has contacted the nearby communities and says there are no immediate concerns for homes or public infrastructure.
A Flood Watch means stream levels are rising and “will approach or may exceed bank full. Flooding of areas adjacent to these streams may occur. Anyone situated close to the river is advised to take appropriate precautionary measures.”
Sections of Peace River were placed under a voluntary evacuation order Tuesday night as water flooded areas of the community.
Peace River Mayor Tom Tarpey said 15 to 20 businesses in the downtown core were affected after a creek overflowed.
A section of Highway 744 was also closed.
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