Flooded roads reported as big melt hits Calgary

Warm weather in southern Alberta on Sunday finally melted heaps of snow, creating a wet mess on Calgary roads and causing concern among residents about potential property damage from flooding.

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Businesses at Westmount Royal Plaza on 17th Avenue and 14th Street S.W. were shut down because of minor flooding in the afternoon.

In Sunnyside, flood-weary residents took matters into their own hands to clear blocked drains near First Avenue and Seventh Street N.W.

“We’re chipping ice all the way from Seventh Street to here, which is like three or four hundred yards of ice, getting blisters, and wondering where the city crews are,” said Mike Bradfield.

Hard hit by flooding last June, the community is on edge this year.

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“It’s hard to sleep sometimes, as we get closer to June, and not just us, all our neighbours,” Bradfield said. “Because we don’t see any attention.”

Just up the hill in Rosedale, resident Wayne Wagner said the melting snow has once again proven the city’s stormwater drains aren’t working.

“I kind of warned them this was going to happen, but we need a new drainage system … to kind of deal with it,” he said. “It’s just a mess.”

There were multiple reports of significant amounts of water pooling across the city.

The City of Calgary says pooling water in areas with property damage, hospitals and schools will be its priority.

With slightly cooler temperatures expected over the next few days, the speed of the melt will likely slow. 

What does the Big Melt look like near you? Send your shots to calgaryphotos@cbc.ca or tweet us @CBCCalgary. Your photo could be featured on the CBC Calgary website.