Storm Update – Conditions Favourable for Funnel Clouds in SE Alberta, Flood Watch for Little Red Deer

A break in Saturday morning’s rain in Medicine Hat revealing a higher South Saskatchewan River. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

Heavy rains have drenched parts of the Eastern Slopes while high winds expected in southeastern Alberta has Environment Canada warning of the possibility of funnel clouds Saturday.

A weak rotation of rapidly growing clouds or thunderstorms is prompting the Special Weather Statement from Environment Canada for Medicine Hat, Bow Island, Foremost and the County of 40-Mile.

That warning comes in addition to a rainfall warning for the southeastern corner of the province with 40 to 80 mm expected by early Sunday.

Rainfall warnings are continuing in southwestern Alberta, Calgary and Banff while it’s been lifted for Lethbridge.

River levels are also beginning to rise across southern Alberta with the Little Red Deer River seeing its status rise to Flood Watch Saturday afternoon between Sundre and Innisfal. Conditions are anticipated to peak at the mouth of the river on Monday.

A general high streamflow advisory remains in effect on the rest of the Red Deer River basin as well as the Bow, Oldman and South Saskatchewan river basins.

Heavy precipitation has brought a swath of rain and snow at higher elevations across the Eastern Slopes from Sundre to north of Pincher Creek with up to 120 mm of rain falling the area.

Another 20 to 70 mm of rain is expected in southern Alberta by late Saturday night, early Sunday morning.

The rains comes as southern Alberta rivers have seen record low streamflows for much of June.

Alberta Environment’s graphic illustrating rainfall accumulations over Friday and Saturday.