Thunderstorm causes power outages, road closures and flooding in Edmonton

Some major roads reopened, while many others remain closed after a thunderstorm caused flooding in Edmonton Saturday night.

Some roadways have been cleared including Yellowhead Trail and Whitemud Drive. Groat Road is fully open in the northbound direction and Connors Road is open in the southbound direction. Other lanes are closed while crews work, according to the City of Edmonton.

The severe storm with intense winds and heavy rain that began around 9 p.m. Saturday night caused temporary road closures, localized flooding, downed trees and power outages at intersections.

“Crews continue to work on reopening roads, clear trees and debris, assess damage and clear water,” the City added.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, nearly 30 millimetres of rain fell between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Blatchford area, in central Edmonton on the north side. During that time, wind speeds averaged nearly 40 km/h. The maximum wind speed was 84 km/h.

As of 2:34 p.m. Sunday, 20 areas are experiencing power outages, according to Epcor’s website.

In a statement to CityNews, Epcor said that the system was “generally performing well” given the intensity of the storm.

“While the system is designed to manage typical rainfall at a city-wide level, we know extreme and prolonged rainfall can challenge or temporarily exceed capacity in localized areas,” a spokesperson for the utility company wrote.

“Saturated ground conditions can also affect the system’s performance, as more water enters the system when it would normally seep into the ground.”

Epcor added that it had deployed additional crews and equipment to monitor infrastructure and support the emergency response efforts.

A tow tuck driver told CityNews Saturday night that he had helped several people get out of their car wading into thigh-deep water.

“First year seeing this amount of rain,” he said, adding that he had been called a few times to the overpass near Whitemud and 159 Street this year.

Edmontonians can report any continued service impacts or issues directly to 311.

Officials are also urging residents to use caution while driving or use public transit options as crews work to clear debris and water.

Additionally, Epcor is asking Edmontians to:

• Avoid flooded roadways and stay clear of underpasses during heavy rain events. Map out alternate routes ahead of time or delay getting on the roads for those occasions when severe weather alerts are issued.
• Stay back at least 10 metres – the length of a school bus – from downed lines.
• Keep a safe distance from stormwater ponds, as their water levels change and make for unstable shorelines.
• Check your sump pumps and keep your eavestroughs directed away from your foundation.