The City of Calgary declared an unprecedented state of emergency Saturday as flood fears prompted by heavy rain forced 2,000 residents to be ordered out of their homes.
The Calgary situation mirrored many other small towns and communities across the southern half of the province.
Unceasing rain flooded roads and highways, sewers and streets.
Campers had to be rescued by helicopter, Trans-Canada traffic was snarled, and hundreds of homeowners had to scurry for high ground in what has become a spring season of soggy misery.
The Calgary evacuation order was directed at single-family homes, low-rise buildings, and three high-rise buildings in an affluent section along the Elbow River south of the downtown.
It was issued after the water level at the Glenmore Dam, which controls flow on the Elbow River, had risen two metres in a matter of hours and threatened to spill over the top.
"This is mandatory and it's mandatory because of public safety," said Mayor Dave Bronconnier.
"The decision was not taken lightly."
In the affected neighbourhoods, rising water washed out bike paths and swirled around lilac trees in the shadow of the downtown skyscrapers and signature Calgary Tower.
"It's like a reality disaster movie - that's what it feels like," said Witold Tardowski, standing on the lawn of his bungalow watching the river lap at nearby sandbags.
He said he watched the river rise almost a metre since the morning.
As daylight faded, the sky was split with the sound of sirens. Nearby residents could be seen packing their belongings into cars and trucks. They took photographs, skis, a cat, and, in one case, some handpuppets.
"I'm just in awe of the [river]flow," said former ski champion Ken Read, who had come to help a friend pack sandbags.
"We now know how this valley has been carved out - by the power of the river."
Nancy Diamond fled her brownstone with only her dog, Menzie.
"It's moving up so I'm moving out," she said. "Nothing else really matters at this point. I haven't taken anything else. Life is the value."
Officials were also keeping a close eye on the Bow River - the other major waterway that cuts through the city - but said it didn't appear ready to flood.
All residents were urged to stay well back from the fast-rising rivers.
Even before the evacuation order, residents were dealing with flooded basements after heavy rain overwhelmed the city's storm sewer system.
Elsewhere Saturday near Okotoks, just south of Calgary, about 50 campers who ignored an earlier request to leave had to be airlifted out by helicopter when rains made a moat out of their escape routes.
In Okotoks itself, residents tried to save their businesses as a river of water ran down main street. Nearby, roads and bridges were washed out. Water swamped picnic tables and campsites.
"There were a lot of people out sandbagging. A lot of volunteers came out to help the community," said Sandy Majore, who heads up the local chamber of commerce.
North of Calgary, in the town of Sundre, about 800 people left their homes for higher ground as rains swelled the Red Deer River.
Town Mayor Roy Cummings told the CBC that two of the four roads out of town were impassable.
West of Calgary, traffic on the Trans-Canada was muddled chaos after rainwater collected on a low-lying section and covered both the east and westbound lanes.
RCMP said traffic was so backed up on their alternate route Saturday that sandbags that were being delivered to the area were delayed.
In Drumheller, low-lying campgrounds along the Red Deer River were evacuated.
Some homes in Red Deer in central Alberta were also under an evacuation order.
The excessive rainfall also forced the evacuation of the hamlet of Priddis west of Calgary and surrounding areas after the Loon Lake Dam was breached.
The floods occurred as a heavy weekend rainstorm rolled through the province, inundating southern Alberta rivers already saturated due to two weeks of heavy rains.
Environment Canada reported that 100 millimetres of rain had fallen southwest of Calgary over a 24-hour period.
Environment Canada meteorologist Mike Russo said the rainfall so far in June for southern Alberta was already about twice to four times the monthly average.
Mr. Russo said relief is in sight - the forecast called for sunny skies in Calgary and most of the region starting Sunday and lasting until at least Tuesday.
Relief had already started to arrive Saturday in High River, a town that had been evacuating homes for the third time in the past few weeks.
Evacuation orders for 150 people to leave their homes in three neighbourhoods Friday night was lifted Saturday afternoon.
The Highwood River crested in the morning and appeared to be slowing down in the afternoon.
"It's wait and see," said Darlene Roblin of the Municipal District of Foothills.
"We need the water to recede enough to have a look and hopefully get on track with the recovery phase."