Water runoff forecasts show dry conditions for spring
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 12, 2022.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews The final runoff predictions in Alberta and Saskatchewan outline dry times ahead for the region around Medicine Hat, and challenging soil moisture conditions without wet weather this spring. Alberta Environment predicts less than half the normal amount of runoff in the region south of a line from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat and then north to Oyen. After an extremely hot and dry year in 2021, deep southern Alberta received a normal amount of snow this winter, but soil moisture was low heading into freeze-up. The area north of the Hat to the Red Deer River could see between half to three-quarter normal levels, while much of eastern Alberta north of Brooks would be drier still. Normal runoff is expected in the immediate vicinity of the Cypress Hills. Average to well above average snow pack in the southern Canadian Rockies could provide higher than normal flow through September on the Bow and Oldman river systems, which create the South Saskatchewan. The Milk River basin could see below average to average. In Saskatchewan, the province’s water authority predicts “well below normal” runoff in the southwest region (driest below a line drawn from north of Kindersley to south of Assiniboia, then gradually wetter heading north and east). “Below normal runoff in the southwest may result in some water supply issues, including shortages and potentially water quality related issues later in the year,” reads the report, which also outlines above normal runoff nearest to Regina. 10-9
