Vermilion and the County of Vermilion River area in central Alberta are under a rainfall warning from Environment Canada, with 40 to 70 millimetres of rain expected from Friday evening through Sunday. The heavy rain is forecast to begin with scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday night, becoming widespread by Saturday morning, with Saturday likely to be the wettest day. Ground already saturated from last weekend’s storm and well-above-normal June rainfall mean the additional precipitation is likely to cause overland flooding and washouts.
The Environment Canada warning, issued at 10:56 a.m. Friday, comes as the region has seen one of its wettest Junes on record. Last weekend’s storm alone brought 50 to 100 millimetres across the Edmonton area, pushing many municipal drainage systems to their limits and prompting water conservation advisories in several communities.
Residents should prepare for hazardous conditions and avoid driving through flooded roads. Environment Canada urges people to report severe weather by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-800-239-0484. The Alberta Emergency Alert system also provides real-time updates, and residents can download the app for location-based notifications.
Nearby Tofield, about 50 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, declared a local state of emergency this week after flooding damaged roads and forced some businesses to close. Mayor Adam Hall said the community cancelled its Canada Day celebrations to avoid straining the wastewater system and limited roadways further, with more rain on the way. Vermilion residents are being asked to monitor alerts closely as the system moves through the area.
The County of Vermilion River, which serves nearly 8,000 residents in east central Alberta, can be reached for emergency inquiries at 780-846-2929, while the Town of Vermilion’s Protective Services can be contacted at 780-853-5358. Rain will continue Sunday, though forecast confidence for early next week remains low at this time.
