Edmonton and much of central Alberta have been placed under yet another new rainfall warning, the latest in a string of wet weather to hit the region. The warning lands at a difficult moment, as many homeowners and businesses are still working to check and clean up the damage left behind by last weekend's storm, which had already tested the area's defences against heavy rain.
Environment Canada issued the new rainfall warning, with forecasters calling for up to 70 millimetres of rain to fall across central Alberta. The heaviest rain is expected to arrive on Saturday, meaning the most intense part of the system would land on a region that has had little time to dry out and recover from the previous downpours.
The central concern, according to forecasters, is that the ground across the region is already saturated from last weekend's storm. With the soil unable to absorb much more water, there is an increased risk of overland flooding and a corresponding threat of water reaching and damaging homes and buildings, particularly in low-lying or already affected areas.
The impact of the persistent rain is not limited to the threat of flooding. The City of Edmonton was forced to close the east sidewalk of the High Level Bridge on Thursday night, removing one of the pedestrian and cycling routes across the structure as a safety precaution while the weather continues to batter the area.
The closure came after city crews found a slope failure caused by the rain underneath the wooden section of the walkway. Officials said the damage made the sidewalk unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists, and the city indicated it would work to repair the affected stretch so the walkway can eventually reopen to the public.
For residents, the new warning means a return to the same anxieties that followed the previous storm. Homeowners and businesses across Edmonton and central Alberta are continuing to assess the damage from last weekend, even as they brace for another round of heavy rain that could compound the problems already on the ground.
With up to 70 millimetres of rain in the forecast and the heaviest expected on Saturday, the combination of saturated soil and fresh downpours keeps the risk of overland flooding elevated across the region. The situation around the High Level Bridge underscores how the repeated rainfall is straining not only homes and businesses but also key pieces of public infrastructure.