Near normal runoff expected in southwest Saskatchewan
By Medicine Hat News on February 12, 2020.
Near normal runoff is expected in southwest Saskatchewan this spring despite lower than usual snowfall and thanks to a wetter than average fall, the province’s Water Security Agency has announced. The outlook for 2020 states the southern portions of the province received well-above-normal precipitation in the autumn as freeze-up occurred, which will increase the runoff potential, but doesn’t guarantee flooding. The wettest soil conditions are located around Swift Current and the Souris River Basin. The area north of Leader through to areas south of Swift Current are forecast to produce near normal melt in eight to 10 weeks time. Below normal water quantities are predicted in central and northern Saskatchewan. Last summer saw average to high amount of rain recharge most of the grain belt following a dry spring. Drier than normal conditions persist near Kindersley, between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, and a small area northeast. It also stated that a wet fall did not surpass levels seen in late 2010 and 2016. The Alberta Environment river forecast at Feb. 1 predicted average to above average river levels in the South Saskatchewan basin this summer based on limited mountain snowpack data. The snowpack conditions for the Cypress Hills are published by Alberta Environment each year starting in March. 10-9
