For the second time in one week, a powerful storm took over the Edmonton region causing floods and affecting local entertainment events.
The long weekend had a stormy start, as an overnight severe thunderstorm warning was issued in the Edmonton area just after midnight – but it only lasted one hour.
A stronger storm made its way to Edmonton and the surrounding area mid-afternoon, when Environment Canada announced a severe thunderstorm watch at 3:30 p.m.
Just over an hour later, the Edmonton Heritage Festival at Hawrelak Park was forced to close early for the rest of the day due to the powerful storm.
#yegheritagefest closure. Please exit Hawrelak Park due to severe weather immediately. @yegtransit is in operation. See you tmrw at 10 AM.
— Heritage Festival (@EdmHeritageFest) July 30, 2016
CTV Edmonton staff were at the event as people exited during the storm.
A wet walk back home as @EdmHeritageFest is shut down for the day due to the rain. #yeg @ctvedmonton pic.twitter.com/3827gbVbKt
— Chad (@ENGPhotoCTV) July 30, 2016
“We got everybody out in a hurry and very safely,” Heritage Festival Executive Director Jim Gibbon told CTV Edmonton.
The power went out at CTV Edmonton 30 minutes before the 6 p.m. newscast began.
Power's out at CTV Edmonton. Thank god for generator backup.
— Michel Boyer (@BoyerMichel) July 30, 2016
Right after the thunderstorm was upgraded to a warning, reports of flooding on the Whitemud Drive surfaced.
Severe storm means water pooling on Whitemud, 111 street to 99 street. Please use ramps rather than underpasses. #yegtraffic. #yegwx
— City of Edmonton (@CityofEdmonton) July 31, 2016
Please note Whitemud is closed from 111 to 99 street due to heavy rain. Detours in effect. #yegtraffic. #yegwx
— City of Edmonton (@CityofEdmonton) July 31, 2016
Two floods in one week on the Whitemud are a cause for concern, and Ward 10 Councillor Michael Walters plans to bring the issue to council soon.
“Short to medium term, we have to certainly increase the warning of that system there to make sure people don’t get trapped there,” Walters said.
Three cars were stuck in the water in the 111 Street area, and two people had to be rescued on a boat by firefighters.
K-Days was also affected, but they chose to keep most of the grounds open through the storm.
For your safety, all tall rides have been temporarily shut down. The rest of the midway remains operational. Stay tuned for updates. #KDAYS
— K-Days (@KDaysyeg) July 30, 2016
IMPORTANT. Severe Weather Warning. Guests at Northlands are encouraged to seek shelter at the Edmonton EXPO Centre or Northlands Park #KDAYS
— K-Days (@KDaysyeg) July 31, 2016
The severe thunderstorm warning ended just after 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday morning, Edmonton and its surrounding area were issued a weather advisory as conditions were favourable for the development of funnel clouds. Later in the afternoon, Environment Canada declared the funnel advisory over.
Environment Canada is going to study and determine whether this recent bad and constant weather is going to persist going forward.
“Whether it's a long term trend or not, we're going to have to look at way more information and collect it to really find out if this is going to be an ongoing thing or not,” Environment Canada Meteorologist Andy Yun said.
