Severe thunderstorm flooding shuts down Whitemud Drive in west Edmonton
A severe thunderstorm caused widespread flooding in Edmonton, forcing the closure of major roadways like Whitemud Drive and disrupting public events. Emergency crews were deployed to assist stranded motorists as the city experienced significant infrastructure strain.
Why it matters
The event highlights the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent.
A stretch of Whitemud Drive was shut down in west Edmonton after a severe thunderstorm dumped massive amounts of rain Saturday night, triggering many calls to 911.
Geysers of water were seen shooting from manholes along the freeway in west Edmonton, where several underpasses flooded.
The 170 Street underpass became a lake, where firefighters were deployed to help some people stuck on the side of the embankment between the northbound and southbound overpass bridges.
Vehicle traffic was forced to turn around and go back the way they came from on the one-way freeway lanes and even the side ramps were impassable in spots.
Three vehicles became stuck at the eastbound 170 Street off-ramp, where a dip in the road collected around two feet of water.
Around 10:30 p.m., Edmonton police said the entire Whitemud was closed between 156 Street and 178 Street.
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