Rain warning lifted for Medicine Hat and area after days of record rain

A rain warning was lifted for Medicine Hat and much of southeastern Alberta on Wednesday, ending a historic weather event that brought much-needed rain to the area this week.

Despite cloudy skies, temperatures in the region are expected to reach 15°C by late afternoon.

Medicine Hat set a new single-day rainfall record on Tuesday.

Environment Canada reported that 73.3 millimeters of rain had been received at the airport as of midnight last night.

The previous record for rainfall in a single day was set in May 1901, when 40.1 millimeters were received.

As of 10am today, a combined total of 83.1 millimeters of rain has fallen since Tuesday.

READ: There is no risk of flooding in Medicine Hat, officials say

Cypress County has warned of two closures due to minor flooding.

The intersection of Township Road 94 and Range Road 30 is under water. Authorities have asked the public to avoid this area.

Josephburg Trail is closed, except to local traffic, between Township Roads 114 and 110 due to overflow at the low-grade crossing, the county reported Wednesday morning.

Precipitation levels

This system has brought varying amounts of precipitation to the region.

Alberta Environment’s monitoring station at Medicine Lodge in Cypress Hills showed 118.5 millimeters of rain in a 48-hour period up to 4:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.

In Elkwater, the gauge measured a total of 104.4 millimeters in 48 hours during the same period.

Irvine’s 48 hour total was 66.5 mm as of 4am this morning.

Seven people measured 63.2 mm, while at Schuler the 48-hour total at 4 a.m. was 37 mm.

Environment Canada continues its rain warning, with another 5 to 10 mm expected before this system dies down later today.

The system also brought strong wind gusts, with One Four recording a peak gust of 106 kilometers per hour and 104 gusts at Lake Pakowki.

There were some weather related issues due to rain on Tuesday.

People on social media posted photos of water pooling in open areas.

Puddles of rainwater collecting on Highway 1 in the Kin Coulee Depression reduced traffic to a single eastbound lane before reopening.

City utility crews also replaced a power pole at the foot of Scholten Hill that was responsible for a power outage affecting about 1,200 customers.

Crestwood, Norwood, areas south of River Flats, southeast Hill, Connaught, Marlborough and Southridge had been without power.

Medicine Hat College was closed for part of the day due to the power outage.