Significant weekend rains will wash into Alberta, Saskatchewan
Localized flooding is possible as some areas expect 100+ mm of rain through Monday
A significant bout of rain will wash over southern portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan heading into this weekend as a stubborn pattern builds over Western Canada.
Some areas could see more than 100 mm of rain through Monday, which could cause localized flooding issues. Gusty winds could accompany the rainfall on Saturday.
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We’ll enter the weekend with a deep upper-level trough moseying across the Rockies while an upper-level low sits over Hudson Bay. Along with enhanced moisture streaming north of the border, this combination will bring unsettled and cooler-than-normal conditions to the southern Prairies.
Expect steady rain to build into the Alberta foothills and parts of southern Saskatchewan through the day Friday, increasing in intensity heading into Saturday.
The heart of the precipitation will push east into Saskatchewan overnight Saturday and into Sunday as the trough moves east.
Folks throughout the region will see formidable rainfall totals from this event.
A widespread swath of 50-100 mm will cover southern Alberta—mainly concentrated on the foothills, including Calgary—with some communities potentially seeing more than 100 mm of precipitation. Some accumulating snow is even possible in the mountains.
30-50 mm of rain is on the way for much of southern Saskatchewan, with southwestern communities near Swift Current and Kindersley expecting 50-75 mm in the gauges through Monday.
Rain in June is good news for both agricultural interests across the Prairies as well as building some natural protection ahead of the heart of wildfire season this summer.
Beware the risk for localized flooding across areas that experience persistent heavy rainfall. Remember, never try to drive across a flooded roadway. It’s impossible to tell how deep the water is until it’s too late.
We’re also watching the potential for gusty winds to buffet some of the affected areas through the day Saturday. Downed trees and power lines are possible as heavy rain saturates the ground.
Header image created using graphics and imagery from Canva.