Sherwood Park, just east of Edmonton, was hit Sunday evening by a severe thunderstorm that dumped up to 75 millimetres of rain in about an hour, accompanied by persistent hail and localized flooding. Environment Canada confirmed it was the hardest-hit area in the entire Edmonton region.
A sudden and intense storm
At around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, a powerful storm front swept through Strathcona County, triggering a rapid downpour that overwhelmed stormwater systems across Sherwood Park. Paul Silveira, a resident of the area for more than 45 years, described seeing hail still covering parts of the ground on Monday morning. He said this storm “was something else,” lasting roughly an hour but causing extensive disruption in a very short time.
Rainfall totals vary significantly across the region
According to a spokesperson for Environment and Climate Change Canada, rainfall amounts varied widely: Edmonton International Airport recorded just 2.9 mm, whereas Sherwood Park saw between 60 and 75 mm, according to several public reports.
Impact on local infrastructure and emergency response
The sudden deluge led to flooded streets, with blocked catch basins contributing to the issue. Silveira noted damage to plants in his yard and saw several vehicles stalled in roadways where water had rapidly pooled.
A Strathcona County spokesperson explained that the stormwater system required time to handle the sudden volume, and crews from utilities, transportation engineering, and emergency services worked together to clear debris from inlets. The flooding receded within a few hours, and stormwater levels returned to normal.
Storm ponds elevated but functioning
While some stormwater ponds in Sherwood Park reached high levels, they are now receding as designed, and the utilities department said it expected to resolve all citizen storm-related concerns by Tuesday, June 17.
Forecast calls for more rain this week
The ECCC outlook for Sherwood Park indicates a chance of rain every day through Sunday, June 22, with the potential for more scattered storms during late afternoons and evenings.
