Geese find open water on the South Saskatchewan River on Feb. 6 near Police Point Park in Medicine Hat.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@MedicineHatNews
Above average snowfall and snow pack in southeast Alberta this winter has improved soil moisture outlook, according to Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.
Forecasters warn however, that since late mid-winter is typically among the driest months of the year, the boost from slightly above normal precipitation is relative.
Longer term, large portions of Cypress County, MD of Taber and County of Forty Mile Special Areas and the MD of Taber received 110 to 130 per cent of average annual rainfall over the last 12 months.
This month the St. Mary’s Irrigation District told its members that storage levels are currently about double where they were 12 months ago, while the snow pillow in the mountains is higher than in recent years.
“This is a significant improvement from storage levels reported in January 2024,” reads a note from general manager David Westwood. “It is still too early to predict what the water allocation will be for the 2025 irrigation season, however we will continue to closely monitor the snowpack and precipitation levels.”
Currently, reservoir storage in the St. Mary’s combined system is considered to be 63 per cent of capacity, nearly double the 33 per cent in January 2024.
The current figure equates to 513,000 acre-feet, which is still below the target winter storage level of 611,000 acre-feet.
Precipitation in January was near normal for almost all of eastern Alberta and moderately high in areas just south of Medicine Hat, according to Alberta Agriculture, while accumulations are considered high in the Cypress Hills and moderately high from there northward and including Special Areas No. 3
Last year, typically rainy spring weather returned, allaying concerns about continued drought conditions for the growing season.
That persisted since one of the driest springs on record in the region in 2023.
Detailed mountain, plains and Cypress Hill snow course readings are due in mid- to late February.
