CALGARY – Farmers can expect a drier than normal spring with lower than average runoff.
Mountain snowpacks are below average throughout most of the Rocky Mountains, said a report from Alberta Environment. Snowpack depth plays a large part in determining river-flow volumes as well as spring runoff.
Below average flows are predicted for the Oldman, Bow, North and South Saskatchewan river basins.
Spring runoff will be lighter than usual because of below average winter precipitation and mild temperatures which melted snowpacks in the mountains. Chinook winds and warm temperatures in January also depleted the plains snowpacks considerably. Precipitation there was below normal as well.
Good groundwater supply
Groundwater supplies vary from below normal to above normal with much of the southern half of Alberta at above average levels. Red Deer north is normal to below normal, said a department official.
More detailed runoff and soil moisture levels will be available at the end of April from Alberta Environment and the Winnipeg Climate Centre.
