Southern Saskatchewan and emergency crews are bracing for the weekend as the long-awaited warm temperatures bring floodwater with them.
Crews that normally fight fires are being added to the flood response team to allow for a widespread effort, said emergency management commissioner Duane McKay.
Unlike the 2011 flood, which was concentrated in southeast Saskatchewan, the flooding this year is occurring in several places at once.
The biggest change this weekend will occur in the Wascana and Souris basins in the southeast.
Water Security Agency spokesperson Patrick Boyle said Friday that the Wascana basin had just started to melt and flow was beginning on smaller waterways such as Cottonwood Creek.
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In Regina, 340 homeowners who live near the creek that flows in and out of Wascana Lake received letters urging them to be prepared to evacuate. City officials stressed the notice is just a precaution.
Depending on the weather, the peak could arrive early next week or within seven to 10 days, officials said.
There is still significant snow cover in southeast Saskatchewan.
On the Souris River system a small peak from Long Creek near Avonlea is expected into Rafferty and Alameda reservoirs this weekend. Boyle said the province expects inflow to be manageable.
However, he noted the weather is always a wild card and quick increases in flows are possible.
Flow is rising through Weyburn.
Flooding is occurring in the river valley at Moose Jaw, where flows are expected to remain high all weekend and possibly increase when runoff from the Rouleau area arrives.
Water levels are rising on the Qu’Appelle River and lakes system, through Lumsden and Craven. Crooked Lake rose 48 centimetres on Thursday alone and has risen 1.3 metres since Tuesday.
To the north, ice jams caused surges on the Codette Reservoir in northeast Saskatchewan Thursday but they have passed. Spills from Tobin Lake in response to surges will continue for about the next week.
McKay said his teams continue to monitor water levels along Highway 11 from Osler to Prince Albert and over to Shellbrook because of potential difficulties in communities. There is also a lot of snow in the Kelvington area that could cause problems.
Meanwhile, water levels in Borden and Radisson seemed to be holding or increasing just slightly. Mitigation efforts such as sandbags and a channel were holding. Snow cover in the area is down to about 25 percent and officials said a large increase in flow isn’t expected.
Ten communities have now declared states of emergency: Maidstone, Radisson, Borden, the rural municipalities of Great Bend, Elfros and Wilton, and the First Nations of Poundmaker, Onion Lake, Sakimay and Muscowpetung.
McKay reminded people that they are responsible for their own safety and if they live in areas that are at risk they should be prepared.
Detailed information about each watershed is available at www.wsask.ca.
