Some Sask. floodwaters receding as warmer weather threatens other areas

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Roberts said cooler weather moving in from the west could briefly slow the melt before temperatures rise again over the weekend.

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“The melt itself will slow down with cool weather, and then it will re-establish once we warm up again,” he said. “The idea is that the snow will have to come off gradual and steady. That is best for stabilizing the situation.”

Some areas have seen recent improvements. In the R.M. of Buckland, northwest of Prince Albert, a mandatory evacuation order was rescinded Friday morning.

“Residents may not return to their properties. Emergency personnel have determined that the immediate threat to public safety has been reduced to a level that allows safe re-entry,” the rural municipality wrote in its notice.

In the nearby R.M. of Paddockwood, a number of roads have been reopened.

The Water Security Agency’s executive director of irrigation and economic development, Leah Clark, said while some areas are beginning to recede, but other basins still have not reached peak flow levels. Clark said the late thaw, above-average snowpack, and spring snowstorms continue to drive significant runoff across northeastern and east-central Saskatchewan.

The WSA also reported record flows in some areas of the province.

“On the Carrot River, Smoky Burn saw the highest ever water flow recorded at nearly 1,000 cubic metres per second,” Clark said.

“Normally, this flow would be around 200 cubic metres per second.”

The Ministry of Highways said flooding continues to damage roads across Saskatchewan. Senior communications consultant, Dan Palmer, estimated about 11 provincial highway closures are currently tied to flooding, along with another eight locations reporting water on the roadway.

“As we can all see, the fast-moving water is undermining road beds and causing challenges on the provincial highway network,” Palmer said.

Crews are currently using gravel, rock and pumps to reopen damaged sections of road while longer-term repairs wait for water levels to drop.

Drivers are being urged to check the Highway Hotline before travelling, as conditions continue to change quickly across the province.

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