Rainfall warning ends for Edmonton

A rainfall warning in place since Wednesday for Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park has been lifted.

As of 10:40 a.m. Thursday, Environment Canada cancelled the advisory.

But don't hold your breath for a sunny afternoon.

There is still a 60 per cent chance of showers in the Edmonton region and parts of west-central Alberta are still getting drenched.

As of Thursday morning, rainfall warnings remained in effect for several areas of Alberta including Hinton, Grande Cache, Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House, Whitecourt, Edson, Fox Creek and Swan Hills. Rainfall and snowfall warnings are in effect for Jasper National Park.

Environment Canada anticipates as much as 80 millimetres could fall in some areas before the rain finally lets up on Friday.

A developing low pressure system over central Alberta is to blame for the gloomy forecast, the weather agency said.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Be prepared for possible winter conditions at higher elevations.

Edmonton saw 25 millimetres of precipitation on Wednesday, breaking a daily record set in 1996.

Many Edmontonians took to social media to bemoan the gloomy weather as city streets turned into estuaries and temperatures chilled.

Social media posts referenced a hunger for hot soup and a general frustration around having to turn the furnace on.

Environment Canada's forecast for Edmonton:

  • Today: Cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of showers. Fog patches dissipating early this afternoon. Wind east 20 km/h. High 15 degrees.

  • Tonight: Cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of showers this evening. Clearing before morning. Wind east 20 km/h becoming north 20 near midnight. Low of 12.

  • Friday: Mainly sunny. Increasing cloudiness in the afternoon then 60 per cent chance of showers late in the afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm late in the afternoon. Wind north 20 km/h. High of 20.