As heavy rainfall is forecasted for this weekend, we want to share an update from the City of Calgary on the precautions being taken to reduce flood risk.
Read the full message from the City below. For updates on river conditions, visit calgary.ca/floodinfo
If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can reach us at info@crcactiongroup.com.
Regards, CRCAG Board
| From: City of Calgary – June 18, 2025 Subject: Note to CRCAG – Watershed Conditions |
| You will, of course, see similar messaging in the City’s flood condition newsletter, and other media, but I wished to directly indicate that: As Neighbor Day and the 12th anniversary of the 2013 flood approach, our flood readiness teams have been working with the Provincial River Forecast Centre and Environment Canada’s Severe Weather Forecasting team to assess widespread heavy precipitation (~100mm) expected over the Bow and Elbow River basins from Friday through Sunday. Precipitation is welcome given the seasonally dry conditions we were experiencing, however, the precipitation expected is intense and widespread enough to prompt preparatory and precautionary flood readiness actions. Calgarians will notice that the water level in the Glenmore Reservoir and the Ghost Reservoir decreasing and flows in the Bow and Elbow River increasing. At this time we don’t expect overbank river flooding in Calgary, however we are preparing for the possibility of even higher than forecasted conditions. We expect flows to be managed to well below important damage thresholds; that is, less than 600 m3/s on the Bow River upstream of the Elbow and the Elbow less than 150 m3/s below Glenmore reservoir. We anticipate High Streamflow and Rainfall Advisories will be issued by the Provincial River Forecast Centre and Environment Canada. Significant local precipitation, high winds and potential for hail is also forecasted locally so we’ll be reminding Calgarians about lot drainage, downspouts and other preparations for wet conditions, across the City and not just in river valley areas. Calgarians and CRCAG members can find updates and information at Calgary.ca/floodinfo/. I trust this is helpful and thank you again for the work CRCAG does to share information, promote resilience and build awareness. Regards, Frank Frigo, P.Eng, Mgr, Environment Management Climate & Environment | Planning & Developmment Services | City of Calgary |