By Bre McAdam

Watershed forecasts “well above normal” runoff for Prince Albert

Mar 10, 2011 | 11:45 AM

Spring is creeping closer and so is the potential for flooding, according to the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority's latest runoff forecast.

“The threat of above-normal runoff is persisting throughout southern Saskatchewan,” said the watershed authority's John Fahlman Thursday.

He clarified the worst spot is in eastern Saskatchewan south of Hudson Bay, in the extreme southwest corner, and the west near Kindersley extending northeast through to Prince Albert.

Fahlman explained those areas were saturated with water going into the fall, followed by a pretty intense snow pack . That makes the threat of a runoff well-above-normal as opposed to just above-normal.

“Basically we're saying that flows could exceed a natural capacity in many regions and quite a bit along the rivers.”

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Fahlman predicted the overflow could occur by the end of March if warm temperatures remain in the forecast. However, he worries it may happen all at once.

“Hopefully the melt will spread out over a long period of time and (it) won't be cold until the middle of April and suddenly turn really warm really fast,” he said. “Because that only makes it worse.”

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