The North Saskatchewan River has risen several metres in a matter of days, and on Wednesday, the City of Edmonton closed river valley trails near the water.
On average, the city said the river level generally sits between three to four metres.
It was at 5.2 metres Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning had surpassed six metres — the point at which the city closes low-lying trails.
The following trails were closed:
- Highlands – Dawson trail
- Capilano – Gold Bar Trail
- Emily Murphy Park – Kinsmen Trail
- River Loop Trail (Fort Edmonton)
Other low-lying trails may be closed on short notice, the city said.
The highest ever river level recorded in Edmonton was in 1915, the city said.
As of 11:30 a.m.. the North Saskatchewan level was 6.152 metres and the flow rate was 1,103 metres cubed per second.
It continued to rise and flow faster as the day went on. By 6 p.m., the level was 6.457 metres and the flow rate was 1,239 metres cubed per second.
A normal flow for this time of year ranges anywhere from 225 to about 500 metres cubed per second.
As of 8:30 a.m. Thursday, the water levels were 6.7 metres but had been stable since about 5:30 a.m. City officials said that could mean the water level was “at or near the peak.”
Before the recently rainfall, the province said the North Saskatchewan was actually sitting around the bottom range of average for this time of year.
The province said Alberta’s River Forecast Centre continues to carefully monitor river levels.
In Edmonton, water levels on the North Saskatchewan River have risen over two metres since Sunday. A further rise of approximately one metre is expected between Wednesday afternoon and the expected peak in the early morning hours of Thursday.
June and July are the biggest rainfall months in Edmonton.
Much of west-central and northern Alberta has seen significant rainfall over the past week, prompting the province to issue a number of flood watches and high streamflow advisories.
Alberta Environment said a high streamflow advisory remains in effect for the tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River from Nordegg to Edmonton and the mainstem within the city.
The river could peak at around seven metres, the province said Tuesday afternoon.
Potential impacts should be limited to low lying river valley trails, boat launches, the dragon boat docks at Dawson Park and the area near the Edmonton Queen Riverboat, the province said.
The river is experiencing high water levels and increased current flow and that is expected to continue in the coming days.
This may cause some flooding in areas running along the North Saskatchewan River and other natural waterways, and make them unsafe.
The city has already had to shut down some areas because of the rain. Last week the Mill Creek Ravine trail system, north of 76 Avenue to Connors Road, was closed.
Alberta Environment said local rain the Edmonton area caused creeks like Mill Creek, Blackmud Creek, Whitemud Creek to rise. Now, bigger rivers are going up as well.
An Alberta Rivers forecast update Wednesday morning said no significant precipitation has fallen in the last 24 hours. The largest amount, of 23 mm, was recorded was near Livingstone Airfield in the Oldman River basin.
Over the last week (June 14 to June 21) the gauge with the highest recorded amount was Luscar Creek (near Edson) with 292 mm.
No significant precipitation is forecast for the province through Friday, Alberta Environment said,
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