Banff, AB, updated 2 p.m. - The Town of Banff is on standby; currently, there is no imminent danger of flooding within Town boundaries. The Trans Canada Highway is closed eastbound and westbound and residents, visitors and employees living outside of Banff are asked to remain in the Town of Banff.
All roads and vehicle bridges within the Town of Banff are open.
Drinking water in the Town of Banff is not impacted and is safe to drink. All Banff water and wastewater systems are functioning normally and as they should.
Rainfall and groundwater may be causing some issues at local homes; residents should check and clear their drainage.
The Town of Banff is working with the local grocery stores and Parks Canada to ensure grocery supplies can be brought into Banff during this closure.
The Town of Canmore has called a Local State of Emergency and are evacuating residents in certain areas. For further details, please check the Town of Canmore website, www.canmore.ca.
The following is the highway and Parks Canada report at noon MDT:
A number of highways in the mountain national parks are closed due to heavy precipitation causing flooding and mudslides.
Trans-Canada Highway—both directions at Carrot Creek, located just inside the Banff East Gate. Engineers are assessing bridge safety.
The Trans-Canada Highway—west-bound at the Norquay interchange. Crews and additional equipment are removing debris from the highway.
Highway 93S—the Banff-Radium Highway—from Castle Junction to Radium.
Highway 93N (the Icefields Parkway)—from Lake Louise to Saskatchewan Crossing.
Given persistent rain, there is no estimated time of road reopening at any of the aforementioned locations.
Additionally, as a precautionary measure, Parks Canada staff are moving campers at Two Jack Lakeside Campground to higher ground at Tunnel Mountain Campground.
There are no reports of injuries.
Updates on the situation will be provided every two-to-three hours, or sooner if conditions change.
For up-to-date road conditions in the Banff area, please visit http://511.alberta.ca/ab/en.html. For information on BC Highways, please visit http://www.drivebc.ca/.