During the high-hazard season, the Town of Canmore monitors the overall risk profile of the community by evaluating wildfire threat, high water levels, and drought/water restrictions. In the table below, you can follow the current status of the significant hazards in the Canmore area, as well as a summary of how those hazards are impacting or interacting with each other.
Use the information in the table to understand what actions you need to take and how you can keep our community safe.
Current Hazard Summary
The snowpack in the Cougar Creek watershed is within historical bounds. The predicted heavy rainfall will increase flows in most creeks.
Flows in the Bow River are within historical bounds, and are expected to vary with the melting of the snowpack and incoming precipitation.
Groundwater levels are below average, and levels in the Spray Reservoir are just below the lower quartile. The water-sharing agreement has not been activated for the Bow River Basin.
There is a high risk for wildfire in the Calgary Forest Area.
Weather forecast summary: A Rainfall Warning is issued for the MD of Bighorn near Canmore, Exshaw, and Ghost Lake calling for 50-80 mm of precipitation. There are differing forecasts between stations on precipitation amount. More localized stations are predicting 20-30 mm of precipitation in the next 24 hours and up to 40 mm in the next 48 hours. Risk of thunderstorm today and tomorrow.
To learn more about the hazards that the Town of Canmore monitors and what each risk or level means, click on the name of the hazard in the table below.
| Hazard | Status (Risk/Level) | Action | |
| Fire | High | - | |
| Flood |
Bow River |
Normal Conditions |
- |
|
Steep Creeks |
High Streamflow Advisory |
Anyone situated close to steep creeks (Cougar, Three-Sisters, Pigeon, Stoneworks, Stone, Echo Canyon, and X,Y, and Z) is advised that water levels can rise rapidly. Use caution around steep creeks and avoid the area when possible. | |
| Drought | Normal Conditions | Voluntary Water Restrictions | |
Last updated: June 27, 2024 3:30 p.m.