Heavy rain continues to fall in northeastern Alberta and now, enough rain is in the forecast to prompt Environment Canada to issue a rainfall warning for Fort McMurray Thursday evening.
Rainfall warnings are issued when over 50 millimetres of rain is expected within a 24-hour period.
Albertans have been praying for heavy rain in the region for weeks.
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“The cliché is true: location location location,” explained Tina Simpkin, a meteorologist at Global Edmonton. “With this weather system, where you live in relation to the low pressure system meant a wide variety of weather. From wind to hail,” and of course the heavy rain.
“Fort McMurray spent most of its time to the northeast of the system where rain has been steadily falling.”
The heavy rain prompted the province to warn locals in the area to not enter previously burned areas, especially where there are trees.
“Rain has increased the hazardous conditions within the Horse River Wildfire,” Alberta Forestry and Agriculture said in a news release. “For your safety and the safety of firefighters, please do not enter burned areas or areas where firefighters are working.”
The release explained that the burned trees have weak root systems and could easily topple over as a result.
“The current rainfall will erode the soil at the base of trees and make slopes slippery.”
Heavy rain is not uncommon for Fort McMurray in June – it is the second wettest month of the year, according to Environment Canada.
Fort McMurray experienced serious flooding in 2013 which prompted a local state of emergency and a boil water advisory to be declared in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.