7°c Partly cloudy
19°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Flash flood traps cars on Edmonton freeway
Larry Wong / Postmedia News A car is stranded after an early-morning storm that included thunder, lightning, wind, hail and rain, in Edmonton. (POSTMEDIA LARRY WONG/EDMONTON JO)
EDMONTON -- Firefighters had to rescue several drenched drivers from an Edmonton freeway when their cars became trapped in flash flooding during a thunderstorm.
Others abandoned their vehicles and waded out into chest-high water.
No one was hurt when the system packing heavy rain, intense lightning and hail the size of quarters struck the Alberta capital early Thursday.
Rescue crews needed dinghies in some cases to get to motorists who had been caught by surprise in underpasses or other low-lying spots along the city's Whitemud Drive.
The rain was too much for storm sewers, which overflowed and created an impassable pool of water in some parts of the road.
Fire spokesman Tim Wilson said crews also had to put out a number of small fires caused by lightning strikes.
Residents in many neighbourhoods reported local flooding caused when storm drains -- some plugged by debris -- couldn't handle the runoff.
The rain came during a heat wave that has generated high humidex readings this week.
The aftermath of the flooding backed up traffic for the better part of Thursday morning. There were some partial and total road closures around the city.
"We had over 70 calls in a very short period of time," said fire Chief Ken Block, who added about 40 of those were related to the storm.
"We were tapped out at a couple of times where all of our crews were out at different events or responding to events," Block said.
"We responded to four flooded buildings and received 29 alarm calls across the city."
Fire officials confirmed two house fires were caused by lightning strikes, but crews contained the flames quickly.
Epcor said power was down to parts of the city. While most power was restored by 8:30 a.m., some small outages continued mid-morning.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 13, 2012 A15
History
Updated on Friday, July 13, 2012 at 11:45 AM CDT: Corrects headline
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
CRTC hits Alberta's Wildrose Party with $90,000 fine for robocalls in 2011, 2012
05/23/2013 8:47 PM 0EDMONTON - Alberta's Opposition Wildrose Party says it has paid a $90,000 penalty imposed by federal regulators for violating automated ...
View Related
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- Could have accepted chief of staff's resignation sooner, Harper admits
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Rob Ford's chief of staff out of office as 'crack video' scandal swirls
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Purse stolen from woman who died in Toronto subway station: police
- 'I want him to suffer,' mother of teen boy says after captor pleads guilty
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Canada lifts lifetime ban on gay men giving blood, but some restrictions remain
- Blood-donation ban lifted for gay men
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Supreme Court won't hear immunity claim from former Quebec Lt.-Gov.
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- CRTC hits Alberta's Wildrose Party with $90,000 fine for robocalls in 2011, 2012
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- Secret CSIS source, allied intelligence cited in high-profile terror case
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Grade 5 kids urge Harper to drop mean attack ads against Justin Trudeau
- Hadfield home, but he can't even drive his car
- Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn't yet exist
- Toronto, eh? Late-night TV cracks up audiences with jibes at Mayor Rob Ford
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- What's snot OK with eating your own boogers?
- Prince Philip presented with Order of Canada during royal visit to Toronto
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.