McCauley neighbourhood in Edmonton. Photo: Alberta Storm Reports / facebook
Several major roadways in Edmonton are reopening following heavy flooding triggered by Saturday night’s intense thunderstorm.
On Sunday, Yellowhead Trail reopened to traffic, but northbound Groat Road and sections of Whitemud Drive are still shut down, according to the City of Edmonton. Crews are actively clearing debris and working to restore additional routes.
The stormy weather also knocked out traffic signals in multiple areas and caused flooding along Connors Road, 127th Avenue, and 107th Avenue.
Environment Canada data shows nearly 30 millimetres of rain fell in just one hour — between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. — with winds gusting up to 30 km/h during that period.
As of 9:45 a.m. Sunday, EPCOR reported 14 neighbourhoods without power. Most outages are expected to be resolved by late Sunday morning or early afternoon.
In west Edmonton, a large stretch of Whitemud Drive was closed after the downpour overwhelmed the drainage system. Dramatic scenes showed water shooting like geysers from manholes, with several underpasses turning into ponds.
At the 170 Street underpass, firefighters assisted drivers stranded on the embankment between the northbound and southbound bridges.
The fast-moving storm also disrupted events across the city.
Attendees at K-Days were directed to shelter inside the Expo Centre, while the Post Malone concert at Commonwealth Stadium was cut short. Fans huddled in the concourse as strong winds and driving rain lashed the venue.
Edmonton Police Service reported an “exceptionally high volume” of 911 calls, warning that response and wait times could be affected.
The storm stretched from Barrhead in the north to Leduc in the south and tracked eastward at about 45 km/h, accompanied by a risk of tornadoes.
Earlier in the evening, around 7 p.m., a tornado warning was issued for areas west of Edmonton near Peers and Niton Junction in Yellowhead County.
Commonwealth Stadium / Post Malone Concert
K-days Entrance on July 25 as a major storm rolls into Edmonton. Photo/ Alexis Kosack
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