Recent snow could increase flood risk in north: officials

As a result, annual spring melt has been pushed back, says Water Security Agency

Recent snowfall in Saskatchewan has flood watchers concerned about the potential for high water in the northern part of the province this spring.

The Water Security Agency said Thursday that areas around Scott, Hudson Bay and north of Prince Albert up to Waskesiu Lake are likely to experience well above normal run-off.

Spokesman Patrick Boyle said cold temperatures and continued snowfall have pushed the spring melt back and that means there’s an increased risk of a quicker thaw and rain. That would mean a lot more water on the land all at once.

“As you get into April, you get it closer to the spring rains and rainfall on snow also can accelerate and move that run-off fairly quickly and that’s where we’re starting to see those issues because it’s really tough to react to a lot of that,” Boyle said.

Areas in the southern part of the province are likely to experience below to well below normal spring run-off, except for a pocket near Eastend to Val Marie in the southwest.

Boyle is hoping for a slow, gradual melt with temperatures above freezing during the day and below freezing during the night.

“The opposite happens and temperatures change very quickly and it’s 10 C and 15 C and sustained overnight, then things really start to move and accelerate,” Boyle said.

Earlier this week, Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips predicted that cold temperatures could persist through the end of April on the Prairies.

The flood outlook has worsened from earlier in the year.

In March, the water agency predicted near-normal to above-normal run-off in most of the province while in February, the agency had forecast below-normal run-off in southern Saskatchewan.

Downstream in Manitoba, last month’s flood forecast predicted that province would be at a relatively low risk of major spring flooding.

Saskatchewan last experienced significant flooding in June 2014.

Southeastern parts of the province experienced heavy rainfall.

Some areas received as much as 200 millimetres of rain in one weekend, washing out bridges, roads and culverts.

More than 35 communities were force to declare a state of emergency.