Flood threat rises with heavy rain and storms developing on the Prairies
The next couple of days will be windy, rainy and potentially stormy for portions of the Prairies, with more than 100 mm of rain possible for some locales
Several days of locally heavy rainfall and thunderstorms will target eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan as a Montana low develops and slowly tracks northeast.
Some areas are in line to see more than 100 mm of rainfall through Thursday as a potent stateside system slowly moves eastward over the region. With the onslaught of soaking rains, the risk for localized flooding will increase.
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After tornado warnings were briefly issued in parts of Saskatchewan on Tuesday, the risk of severe weather reappears in the southerly end on Wednesday.
It will be important to pay close attention to the latest alerts in case severe weather occurs. Have a plan in place to seek safe shelter in case severe weather threatens your home, your office, or while you’re driving.
Through Thursday: Rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms
Strong winds can be expected locally in thunderstorms Tuesday night, then becoming more widespread Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the deepening low will create strong, northwesterly wind gusts across Alberta and Saskatchewan, with up to 70 km/h gusts possible.
Peak rainfall rates will occur Wednesday afternoon and evening, with the heaviest rain forecast in western Saskatchewan.
There will be the potential for severe storms east of the centre of the low, with the cold front extending south into the Dakotas.
Some communities near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border could see more than 100 mm of rain through Thursday as this storm passes through the region, which heightens the risk for localized flooding.
Thursday will bring the weakening of the low but the strongest day for storms. The best dynamics will be in Minnesota but northwestern Ontario should be in line for large hail and damaging wind gusts.
Storms will be generally non-severe in nature across Manitoba on Thursday with severe potential in northwestern Ontario.
Meanwhile, cooler air filtering in on the western side of the system will keep temperatures well below seasonal across southern Alberta. Calgary and Lethbridge will struggle to climb into the mid-teens on Wednesday.
Additional showers are expected late week for parts of the region, and the potential for another system for southern Manitoba to end the weekend. Temperatures will be on the warm side of seasonal for the next week, especially for eastern parts of the region.
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Thumbnail courtesy of Erik Witsoe via Unsplash.
