WINNIPEG – Parts of Manitoba could be dealing with major flooding this spring because of saturated soil conditions.
The 2016 Fall Conditions Report, released Tuesday, said soil moisture levels are similar what they were before the destructive 2011 flood.
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“Our soil moisture conditions are similar to the fall of 2010,” acknowledged Doug McMahon, assistant deputy infrastructure minister.
River and lake levels are also higher than normal, contributing to a potential risk of flooding during the spring melt but officials aren’t sounding the alarm yet.
“We’re not indicating by any means that we will have a flood next year because nobody knows that for sure but we just want to be prepared,” said Blaine Pedersen, infrastructure minister.
Other important predictors won’t be known for another few months like accumulation of snow, spring rain, depth of frost and melt rate.
“The indicators are kind of mixed on how our future weather is going to unfold and that’s why we’re talking a wait and see approach here,” said McMahon.
To see the full Fall Conditions Report click here.