By Lisa Schick

Normal snowpack could bring spring flooding to Sask.: report

Nov 20, 2014 | 11:53 AM

After the torrential rains last spring, even a normal snowpack for the coming winter could result in flooding in spring 2015, according to the Water Security Agency’s fall conditions report.
 
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency released its report on Thursday morning. 
 
Near record rains fell across most of Saskatchewan during the first half of the 2014 growing season and, though there’s been normal precipitation in the past two months, the report said most of the grain belt is still quite wet.
 
“Larger wetland areas across the province remain near full and many creeks across the province are continuing to flow at or near record levels for this time of year.”
 
So the Water Security Agency wrote that even a near-normal snowpack for winter 2014/2015 could result in above normal runoff and even flooding in the spring. The report said the forecast is indicating a near-normal snowpack.
 
The report stated that it is too early to be certain whether flooding will happen in the spring; much of Saskatchewan’s grain belt is at a heightened risk.
 
The Water Security Agency will start releasing Spring Runoff Outlook reports in February 2015.

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