REGINA – The Saskatchewan Water Agency (WSA) says a near normal snowpack this winter could result in an above normal runoff and flooding next spring. The WSA made the statement Thursday in its fall conditions report.
The concern is the amount of precipitation most of the province received this year. The majority of the subsoil is saturated and unable to absorb any more water after many areas received 150 to 200 per cent above normal precipitation.
The WSA says with the exception of an area north of Lloydminster and an area extending from Hudson Bay to Nipawin, most areas are going into this winter with wetter than normal conditions with as much, or more, water in and on the ground than in the fall of 2010.
The agency says four consecutive years of above normal precipitation have left large wetland areas nearly full and some creeks are flowing at record levels for this time of year. The report says many creeks in the southeast which are normally dormant right now continue to flow, an indication how saturated the ground is currently.
Most models are pointing towards a near normal snowpack this winter, with only Environment Canada currently predicting an above normal snowpack.
The agency will release its first outlook on the 2015 spring runoff in February.
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