The Water Security Agency has released their preliminary spring runoff outlook for 2022.
The runoff potential is determined based on the conditions at freeze-up, the snowfall received to date and that further precipitation will be average between now and spring melt.
Sean Osmar is the Manager of Communications for the Water Security Agency. He talked specifically about the below normal snowmelt runoff potential in the southwest, saying "Last summer and last fall, the high temperatures, as well as due to the fall months with very little or no precipitation for most of the western and particularly the southwestern corner of the province, that led to very dry conditions in those regions. In the winter, we've seen some precipitation, still below normal, but conditions have improved slightly."
The central areas, with above-normal snowpack, can expect an above-normal snowmelt response and near-normal conditions are currently projected for the far north.
Osmar says that without additional snowfall, surface water supply issues are likely to occur in 2022 in the southwest.
The spring runoff outlook could change as there is potentially another 8 to 10 weeks of winter left.
The first spring runoff forecast will be issued in early March.
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