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A weekend warmup could add more pressure to Saskatchewan’s flooding crisis after the number of local states of emergency more than doubled this week.
The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said 35 communities are now under emergency declarations, up from 15 earlier this week. Fourteen of those declarations were added in just the last 48 hours.
SPSA vice-president, Steve Roberts, said there is still snow left to melt in northern Saskatchewan, meaning more runoff is still expected.
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“Yes, there is still snow in the northern portions of the province, which will contribute,” Roberts said during an SPSA technical briefing on Thursday.
Roberts said cooler weather moving in from the west could briefly slow the melt before temperatures rise again over the weekend.
“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.”
The Water Security Agency’s executive director of irrigation and economic development, Leah Clark, said 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.
