Rain in southwestern Alberta over the past two days has prompted the provincial environment department to issue high stream flow advisories for five river systems.
The Highwood, Sheep, Elbow, Bow rivers upstream of the Ghost Reservoir and the Oldman River upstream of Lethbridge were all subject to advisories, which indicate water levels could rise rapidly.
No major flooding is anticipated, but the department said minor flooding of low-lying areas is possible.
Fifty to 100 millimetres of rain have fallen along the eastern slopes of the Rockies since Wednesday. The heaviest precipitation fell as snow at higher elevations in the upper Oldman and Bow river basins. Another 40 mm could fall in the latter basin today, the environment department said.
It also issued a flood watch today for Sousa Creek in northern Alberta northwest of High Level, but river levels there are now falling.
Stream flows are generally above normal in the Athabasca, Peace, Hay and Battle river basins but normal in the North Saskatchewan, Red Deer and Milk river basins.
