Part of Yellowhead Trail in Edmonton was shut down due to flooding Saturday, with the city remaining under an ‘orange’ severe weather alert for rainfall.
The latest dump caused Yellowhead Trail westbound at 170 Street to be closed, said a noon-hour Edmonton police news bulletin, advising drivers to avoid the area. Heavy rain in May previously caused part of the roadway to be closed due to flooding.
Environment Canada said up to 30 millimetres more rain was to fall Saturday as the racing North Saskatchewan River continues to swell. And another 10 mm of rain was forecast to be in the mix Saturday night, with warnings of late afternoon wind gusts in the 50 km/h range and the threat of thunderstorms.
High stream flow advisories in the region were on Saturday in effect for tributaries to the North Saskatchewan River near Edmonton, tributaries to the North Saskatchewan River downstream of Edmonton to the Saskatchewan border, the North Saskatchewan River from Devon to the Saskatchewan border, tributaries to the North Saskatchewan River from Rocky Mountain House to Devon, the Vermilion River, Sturgeon River, Waskatenau Creek, and Redwater Creek.
The soggy bluster is to continue into Sunday, with yet again up to 10 mm of rain in the forecast before the sun breaks through Monday, with a high of 26 C in the cards.
But don’t expect to turn any weather corners come Canada Day, which this year falls on Wednesday.
The sun may poke out Monday but come July 1 and the rest of the week, expect wet and turbulent conditions once again.
The Edmonton Riverboat goes under the James Macdonald Bridge on the bloated North Saskatchewan River Friday, June 26, 2026, in Edmonton. Greg Southam-Postmedia
Environment Canada issued the orange alert Friday, warning that the weekend could bring between 40 mm and 70 mm of rain to the already saturated Edmonton, St. Alberta and Sherwood Park areas.
The orange ‘severe’ weather alerts are issued when conditions are ripe for “significant damage, disruption, or health impacts,” a step up from Environment Canada’s ‘hazardous’ yellow warning, with impacts said to be “moderate, localized and/or short-term.”
With 203 mm of rain as of Friday for the month of June, Edmonton is on the cusp of breaking the month’s 112-year record rainfall set in 1914, when 216.5 mm was recorded. Edmonton’s rainfall record for a single month was recorded in 1901 when 282 mm fell.
Growing erosion in the river valley prompted the City of Edmonton on Thursday to shut down the east sidewalk of the High Level Bridge due to slope instability near the southeast side of the bridge.
A number of outdoor activities, from golf to soccer, have been swept aside by the near-constant June showers.
Due to the fresh wave of anticipated heavy rainfall, a large community tree planting event hosted by Trees for Life, Arbor Day Foundation, Root for Trees and Cummins Inc. scheduled for Saturday in Kinnaird Park has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 4.
With the recent heavy rainfall the North Saskatchewan River is extremely high, including here at the Capilano Park boat launch. Taken on Friday, June 26, 2026, in Edmonton. Greg Southam-Postmedia
Epcor advises there are ways to stay on top of any potential flooding, including watching for street signs that are posted when waters are significantly high. The public can visit Alberta River Basins for the latest updates. Anyone experiencing or witnessing drainage issues can also call 780-412-4500 to report it.
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