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Calgary river flows - historical data

The City of Calgary collects data of river flows on the Bow and Elbow River. Information on this page provides a historical look at river flows.

Historical flow rates for the Bow and Elbow Rivers

The term 1-in-100 refers to the probability of flooding, meaning there is a one percent chance in any given year that it may flood to the level we saw in 2013.

Below are the annual return period (probability of occurring) flow rates. The City of Calgary has data back to 1870 for the Bow and Elbow Rivers. These graphs show the peak flow up to 2013.

undefined: ​Return period undefined: ​Probability of occurence in any given year undefined: Elbow River above Glenmore Dam​ undefined: ​Elbow River below Glenmore Dam​ undefined: ​Bow River above Elbow River undefined: ​Bow River below Elbow River
undefined: ​(years) undefined: ​(%) undefined: ​(m3/s) undefined: ​(m3/s) undefined: ​(m3/s) undefined: ​(m3/s)
undefined: ​2 undefined: ​50 undefined: ​84.6 undefined: ​63.9 undefined: ​369 undefined: ​433
undefined: ​5 undefined: ​20 undefined: ​194 undefined: ​143 undefined: ​659 undefined: ​802
undefined: ​10 undefined: ​10 undefined: ​307 undefined: ​234 undefined: ​927 undefined: ​1160
undefined: ​20 undefined: ​5 undefined: ​454 undefined: ​275 undefined: ​1230 undefined: ​1500
undefined: ​50 undefined: ​2.0 undefined: ​708 undefined: ​494 undefined: ​1660 undefined: ​2150
undefined: ​100 undefined: ​1.0 undefined: ​954 undefined: ​803 undefined: ​2020 undefined: ​2820
undefined: ​500 undefined: ​0.2 undefined: ​1770 undefined: ​1690 undefined: ​2920 undefined: ​4610

The City of Calgary has data back to 1870 for the Bow and Elbow Rivers. These graphs show the peak flow up to 2013.

History of maximum flow in the Bow River

Historical of river flows for the Bow River
Click to view larger image.

History of flows on Elbow River (below Glenmore Dam)

Historical of river flows for the Elbow River
Click to view larger image.

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