WATCH: As Calgary enters rainy season, flood fears are on the minds of many Calgarians, and while there isn’t any direct threat many are still preparing for the worst. Gary Bobrovitz reports.
CALGARY – Though the scars of the 2013 flooding can still be seen in parts of Calgary like the Mission neighbourhood, conditions in June are nowhere close to such danger levels.
“The river, reservoir and mountain snowpack conditions are all within their normal ranges,” said Frank Frigo, a river engineer with the City of Calgary. “Nothing to worry about…there is no significant event that we can see.”
Despite some rain in the short-term forecast, meteorologists anticipate a drier season.
“Because mainly in the ramp-up of the strength of El Nino, it looks like we are going to have an average to slightly drier season,” said Global Calgary meteorologist Jordan Witzel. “That—as the flood season comes—is a good outlook, but we should always note with flood outlooks just one instance—two days of rain can change that.”
Some homeowners are taking action, erecting aluminum fences along the Elbow River.
At the former Holy Cross Hospital site, dozens of plastic sand bags and orange flood barriers are set up on the east side closest to the river.
The city continues to monitor conditions, and identified 200 flood recovery and preparation projects from 2013. Just over half have been completed so far.
For a full list of updates, click here.
With files from Erika Tucker
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