The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) has listed six basins at a high risk level for the 2016 spring runoff. Ground conditions in the Pipestone, Qu’Appelle, Assiniboine, Red Deer, Torch and Carrot River basins are currently wetter than normal leading into freeze-up.
The WSA released the findings in its 2015 Conditions at Freeze-up Report, which states those six basins are at higher risk if a normal or above normal snowpack develops.
Overall, the agency says topsoil moisture conditions are adequate across the grainbelt with the exception of an area in the northeast and a few pockets in east-central regions where conditions are described as surplus.
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WSA officials caution that although the report gives an early indication of areas vulnerable to above or below normal runoffs in the spring, it is not an early runoff forecast as snow accumulation is difficult to predict.
Long-range forecasts suggest there is a greater than average possibility of below normal precipitation this winter.
The WSA will issue its first 2016 spring runoff forecast in early February.
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