BOW VALLEY – Alberta Environment declared a flood watch for the Bow River upstream of the Town of Banff and Pipestone River near Lake Louise.
The advisory noted the higher temperatures in recent days and rain from May 27 to 29 have led to snow melting and water levels increasing.
The Bow River in Banff and Lake Louise was highlighted in seeing water rising 0.4 to 0.5 metres since June 1 and it’s expected to rise between 0.2 to 0.4 metres during the weekend.
The water levels for the Pipestone River near Lake Louise may also rise 0.15 to 0.30 metres, the advisory warned.
The Town of Banff warned that some trails are covered in water, which was resulted in closures.
“Please respect all barriers and avoid flooded trails,” the Town of Banff asked in a Facebook post. “Avoid riverbanks as they can be slippery and dangerous beside fast-moving water with significant debris. Avoid river recreation.”
The Town posted they’re monitoring the flooding at the recreation grounds, the Birch Street trails, Bow Avenue and the parking lot at Bow Falls.
The Town of Canmore also warned residents to be aware of rising water levels.
A Facebook post on the Town’s page said the pathways underneath Bow River Bridge are closed since the Bow River flow is above the normal range for this time of year. The Three Sisters creek also has a slightly elevated flow.
