By Charlene Tebbutt

Added snowfall increases risk for localized flooding in Prince Albert area

Apr 5, 2018 | 12:18 PM

More snow in the Prince Albert area and across north and northeast Saskatchewan is leading to increased fears of flooding this spring.

The province’s Water Security Agency sent out a revised forecast Thursday, saying areas in the Prince Albert and Hudson Bay regions received above-average precipitation and could see localized flooding as the weather warms up. Snowfall levels across the province were well above normal in March, though widespread flooding is not expected.

Local rural municipalities are preparing for possible flooding in some areas, but remain optimistic that any damage will be minor.

In the RM of Buckland, Reeve Don Fyrk said the area has seen flooding in past years, but he’s confident they can handle the runoff this spring. Fyrk said the RM is working to ensure culverts are open as the weather warms.

“The last four years we’ve been digging major ditches to handle all the drainage,” Fyrk said. “We’ve got all these ditches in place now. Now I’m just anxious to see if they’re going to work, but I think they are.”

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Cheryl Bauer Hyde, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Lakeland, said they’re busy plowing roads and ensuring culverts and drainage ditches are clear. There is still more than two feet of snow on the ground in her area, she said.

“There is a lot of snow, for sure. The Water Security Agency did take some of the water levels, certainly at Anglin [Lake], were down fairly low in the fall. They were near the minimums, so that bodes well as far as runoff into the lakes, from the watershed, that there is capacity there,” Bauer Hyde said. “But, we do have a lot of snow that’s for sure.”

The Water Security Agency’s Patrick Boyle said a quick warm-up will increase the chances of flooding, but most areas of southern Saskatchewan are still expected to see below-normal levels of runoff, according to the latest WSA forecast. Steady temperatures around five degrees during the day and minus five at night would be the best scenario to ensure a slow melt and reduce the risk of flooding, he said.

“This cold snap in temperatures in March has delayed spring runoff,” Boyle said. “It really hasn’t started yet.”

charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt