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Incoming Alberta rains good for farmers, unlikely to cause major flooding says meteorologist

Alberta's seasonal 'June monsoon' is expected to be kicked into high gear Monday afternoon, with Environment Canada issuing warnings for heavy rainfall across much of southern Alberta, including Banff National Park, Kananaskis and Calgary. 

According to a special weather statement released early Sunday morning by Environment Canada, up to 100 mm of rain could fall by Wednesday, particularly on the foothills and eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Current projections place the greatest rainfall amounts near Kananaskis. 

Kyle Brittain, the Alberta bureau chief for the Weather Network, said that while this week's prolonged rainfall could put the province past its typical monthly average for June, he doesn't expect it to cause severe flooding.

That's because historical dry conditions across the southern part of the province have led to a lower than average water table, said Brittain, leaving substantial room in the ground for moisture to be absorbed.

"[The] exceptional drought in southern Alberta, that actually gives us quite a good buffer against major flooding right now."

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Spring Planting Prep Just Got Serious… We NEED This!

Video: Spring Planting Prep Just Got Serious… We NEED This!

Getting closer to planting season means one thing… it’s time to get EVERYTHING ready.

Today didn’t go exactly as planned—we thought we’d be hauling potatoes again, but instead we spent the day digging equipment out of the cellar, hooking up the grain drill, and getting tractors ready to roll. With wheat planting just around the corner, every piece of equipment matters.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a normal day without a few problems… dead batteries, hydraulic issues, and a truck tire that absolutely refused to cooperate. We tried everything—jump packs, bead bazooka, ratchet straps… and eventually had to bring out the “big guns” just to get things moving again.

But that’s farm life—adapt, fix, and keep moving forward.

We’re getting close to go-time. Wheat seed is coming soon, and planting season is right around the corner