80% of Flood Waters are Generated in the Mountains!
Rainfall in the Rocky Mountains is the primary cause for flooding in Calgary. Rain hits the hard mountain surfaces and moves quickly from the mountains into the rivers. Flooding occurs quickly and with little warning because of the short, steep distance the rivers travel from the mountains to Calgary.
Source: City of Calgary: Controlled river high-flow event scheduled for May 10, 2016.
Science Media Centre of Canada
www.sciencemediacentre.ca/smc/docs/SMCC-BowRiver.pdf