Thanks to a warm winter with limited snowfall, there is minimal risk of flooded agricultural land in Manitoba this spring.
In its first flood forecast of 2016, the provincial government said Feb. 29 that snow cover is below average throughout the province, soil moisture at freeze up was normal and frost depth is below normal to normal. Consequently, the Hydrologic Forecast Centre of Manitoba said the “risk of overland flooding is minor to moderate across the province.”
By region and river system:
- Red River – minor risk
- Pembina River – minor risk
- Assiniboine River – moderate risk
- South West – minor risk
- Interlake – moderate risk
- Eastern – moderate risk
In its report, the forecast centre released a map detailing precipitation this winter on the Prairies and in North Dakota. It indicates that much of Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan and parts of North Dakota have received less than 50 percent of normal precipitation between Nov. 15 and Feb. 20.
“In southwest Manitoba and southeast Saskatchewan snowfall has been well below normal,” the report said.
Other parts of the Lake Winnipeg basin, including northeastern Saskatchewan, northwestern Saskatchewan and Alberta, received 50 to 85 percent of normal snow and rain this winter.
Manitoba forecasters said a spring storm could dramatically alter their predictions. They will release a second flood outlook in late March.
robert.arnason@producer.com
