Murray Wood: Twenty-year-old murder case shows shortcomings of Youth Criminal Justice Act
Murray Wood says the fact a 37-year-old man dodged an adult sentence for the killing if Misha Pavelick 20 years ago shou...
Floodwaters have inundated several highways in the province, with the village of Buchanan in the south-central part of the province particularly hard hit.
Saskatchewan Highway Hotline said on Saturday morning that flooding has closed Highway 5 in both directions east of Watson as well as near 1st Ave W in Buchanan. Highway 47 south of Highway 5 near Buchanan is also closed because of floodwaters.
Read more:
- Water Security Agency warns of risk of flooding, ice jams as snow melts
- Fuel spill in South Saskatchewan River heading for Leader
A drone photograph of the extensive flooding that closed Highway 5 west of Buchanan. (Colin Pas/Facebook)
Highway 310 in Foam Lake is also closed in both directions 6.5 kilometres south of Highway 16. Flooding has also closed Highway 25 east of St. Louis.
Near Kamsack, Highway 357 is closed in both directions from 1.5 kilometres east of Highway 8 to Assiniboine River Bridge. Flooding has also closed Highway 920 east of Highway 106 at Narrow Hills Provincial Park.
As well, at Wakaw flooding has closed Regional Park Road east of Highway 2 and water over the road on Railway Ave in Brancepeth has closed all lanes closed. Near Nipawin, floodwaters have also closed Birch Road in both directions 13 kilolmetres east of Highway 23.
Is there flooding in your area? Send info, pics and video to webnews@rawlco.com
Jason Knight, meteorologist with Environment Canada, said a weather system moving into the province is adding to the uncertainty in already flood-prone areas.
“It’s a bit of a mixed bag out there. Another low-pressure system is coming down from the Arctic, bringing unsettled weather.”
That system could bring more rain to areas already dealing with flooding, he said.
“For those flood-prone areas, we’re looking at a chance of showers or thundershowers tomorrow.”
While most areas won’t see much rain, localized storms could worsen conditions.
“Most places are going to see a few showers, but if you get under a thunderstorm, it might be up to 10 millimetres, so that’s not good news.”
There is some relief on the way, he said, with cooler temperatures expected early next week.
“Behind this, we’re looking at some cool northerly air daytime highs in the single digits and overnight lows well below 0 C.”
Those cooler, drier conditions should help slow down the rapid melt.
“It’s dry, so once we get past these showers, we’re looking at favourable conditions to help slow the melt.”
Outside of the short-term system, Knight said the overall forecast for the province is trending drier.
“Generally speaking, it’s going to be a pretty dry week ahead with those cooler temperatures and snow is starting to look like a distant memory for most places.”
But, he added, the flood risk is shifting north as conditions change.
“The snow in the south is mostly gone; the problem is moving further north.”
Near Beauval, flooding has closed Highway 165 just south of the town, while to the north on Highway 918 washouts have closed the road in both directions 17 kilometres north of Highway 165.
Dave Popowich, Reeve of RM of Good Lake, said the area was “pretty good till about two days ago.”
“Then the waters started coming from the northern parts, and there just isn’t capacity,” he said.
“Drainage ditches are flooding all over. We’ve got many, many roads that are being cut and others getting washed away.”
A truck stuck in floodwaters near Tiny posted on social media on May 1, 2026. (CJSB Swan River/Facebook)
Popowich said the water would make its way into Good Spirit Lake, “and that’s where the problem is.”
“We had maybe about 14 inches of snow, then a couple of warm days, and everything just melted. In 2010, we had 170-some roads that were washed out. This is the second time in my career.”
“There’s really not much we can do till the water runs down, then we’ll fix the roads as best we can. We’re getting many, many phone calls complaining, but what can you do?” Popwich said.
Highway 5 just west of Buchanan on May 1, 2026. (Doug Ruf/Facebook)
The Water Security Agency issued flood warnings for the area in blue on April 28, 2026. (Water Security Agency website)
On Wednesday, the Water Security Agency (WSA) issued a high flow advisory for a large area of the province that extends from northwestern Saskatchewan near Buffalo Narrows down to the southeastern areas near Yorkton.
The WSA said in the April 28 advisory that increasing temperatures and overnight lows remaining above freezing could result in rapid snow melt in areas where snowpack remains or where runoff has not yet begun.
Flooding near Kelvington, east of Saskatoon, on May 2, 2026. (Sandy Lowndes/Submitted)
The advisory said rivers could reach higher levels than currently forecast, increasing the risk of localized overland flooding and the potential for ice jamming.
WSA also warned that areas that have already experienced peak water levels and are currently receding, may see a second peak.
Flooding west of Buchanan on May 1, 2026. (Mike Slusar/Facebook)
— with files from Jacob Bamhour, 980 CJME
Read more:
