The North Saskatchewan River has risen several metres in a matter of days, prompting the City of Edmonton to close river valley trails near the water Wednesday.

On average, the city said the river level generally sits between three to four metres.

It was at 5.2 metres Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning had surpassed six metres — the point at which the city closes low-lying trails.

The following trails are now closed:

• Highlands – Dawson trail
• Capilano – Gold Bar Trail
• Emily Murphy Park – Kinsmen Trail
• River Loop Trail (Fort Edmonton)

Other low-lying trails may be closed on short notice, the city said.

The highest ever river level recorded in Edmonton was in 1915, the city said.

As of 11:30 a.m.. the North Saskatchewan level was 6.152 metres and the flow rate was 1,103 metres cubed per second.

It continued to rise and flow faster as the day went on. By 6 p.m., the level was 6.457 metres and the flow rate was 1,239 metres cubed per second.

A normal flow for this time of year ranges anywhere from 225 to about 500 metres cubed per second.

Before the recently rainfall, the province said the North Saskatchewan was actually sitting around the bottom range of average for this time of year.

The province said Alberta’s River Forecast Centre continues to carefully monitor river levels.

In Edmonton, water levels on the North Saskatchewan River have risen over two metres since Sunday. A further rise of approximately one metre is expected between Wednesday afternoon and the expected peak in the early morning hours of Thursday.

June and July are the biggest rainfall months in Edmonton.

Much of west-central and northern Alberta has seen significant rainfall over the past week, prompting the province to issue a number of flood watches and high streamflow advisories.

Alberta Environment said a high streamflow advisory remains in effect for the tributaries of the North Saskatchewan River from Nordegg to Edmonton and the mainstem within the city.

The river could peak at around seven metres, the province said Tuesday afternoon.