Heavy rainfall over the weekend of June 20-21, 2026 has left all gravel roads throughout Lacombe County in poor condition, according to the county. Motorists in Lacombe County, including those near Blackfalds, are being warned to expect soft, muddy surfaces and challenging driving conditions until repairs can be made.
The storm dumped 49 millimetres of rain on Lacombe, as recorded by Environment Canada. County crews say they will start fixing the roads as soon as conditions dry out enough to safely operate equipment. An alert posted on the Lacombe County website on June 22 remains active, reminding drivers that all gravel roads are currently in rough shape.
Lacombe County looks after more than 1,600 kilometres of gravel roads, a network that has been serviced by eight grader divisions. In March 2026, county council approved adding a ninth grader division, which is set to start operating in early July. That expansion will cut the average distance each grader covers from 210 kilometres to 187 kilometres, helping crews respond faster to changing road conditions like those seen now.
For the many farmers in Lacombe County—where 98.6 per cent of land is zoned for agriculture—the wet weather has also slowed fieldwork. Provincial crop reports show that while 81 per cent of major crops in the central region were rated good to excellent as of June 16, cool temperatures and high moisture have slowed growth. Spraying operations are behind schedule because wet fields make it tough to get equipment out, and low-lying areas have flooded, raising worries about crop losses.
