By paNOW Staff

Anticipated spring runoff ‘below normal’ in northern Sask.

Apr 3, 2025 | 5:28 PM

Expected runoff in northern Saskatchewan is expected to be below normal due to dry fall conditions and a below normal snowpack to date.

The Water Security Agency (WSA) updated its spring runoff forecast and said things remain largely unchanged from last month, with most of the Churchill River Basin and further north expected to see below normal runoff. In fall 2024, most of Saskatchewan experienced below-normal precipitation, leading to dry conditions at freeze-up, especially in southern and northern Saskatchewan.

In its report, the WSA wrote, ‘The eastern parts of the Churchill River Basin around Sandy Bay and Flin Flon extending north to the southern part of the Reindeer Lake are expected to see near normal runoff this spring (up from the March 1 report due to heavier precipitation in March).’

The WSA said Reindeer Lake is currently low and flows in the Churchill River Basin are generally below lower quartile for this time of year. With the dry conditions and low water levels throughout much of the north, an above normal runoff is needed to produce near normal runoff in this area this spring.

It added the runoff forecast can quickly change with heavy spring precipitation or rapid rises in temperatures causing fast snowpack melt.’

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(Submitted/Water Security Agency)

While warmer daytime temperatures combined with freezing overnight temperatures over the past month have resulted in a slow melt so far this spring, WSA said runoff is well underway across most of the southwestern and the southern areas of Saskatchewan.

‘Snowfalls in late March brought 10 to 20 cm of snow from the Lloydminster area through Saskatoon and toward Yorkton however, it is not expected to significantly increase runoff. For most of the snow-covered areas in southern and central Saskatchewan, much of the runoff has seeped into the soil, and with below normal precipitation for the past month, runoff is expected to be near normal,’ the report read.

In the area between Regina and Saskatoon, heavier snowpack remains with above normal runoff expected.

Current reservoir levels at Lake Diefenbaker are more than one meter higher than average for this time of year as a result of the limited drawdown and early runoff in the southern prairie region.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com