As the temperatures are finally in an upturn, most of Alberta is now under a flood watch due to the melting of huge amounts of snow that fell through the winter.
In the advisory, the province says that due to average or above-average seasonal temperatures over the next week will cause a rapid melt of the great plains snowpack.
Officials are warning that there could be flooding around creeks and streams in low-lying areas, but the increased volumes aren’t expected to affect rivers like the Bow or Elbow in Calgary.
The snowpack in the mountains is also not expected to negatively impact waterways at this time.
That’s good news for residents in areas that were hit during last year’s flood, but that doesn’t mean the work is over.
Residents have been chipping away at the ice covering storm sewers to drain water that’s pooled in their neighbourhoods.
City crews are also out working to deal with the snow melt.
The mayor says they are prioritizing by going into neighbourhoods where there is a greater risk of property damage.
“If it’s coming towards my house, phone the city and say it’s coming towards my house,” Nenshi said on Monday.
The city has received more than 1,200 calls to 311 about water-filled streets, with about ten percent of those calls reporting property damage.
