A swath of west-central Saskatchewan is bracing for a soggy Saturday as Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for dozens of rural municipalities, with 40 to 80 millimetres of rain expected by evening.
Rainfall is forecast to begin late Friday evening, intensifying into heavy downpours through Saturday before tapering off overnight. The agency warns the system could lead to flash flooding, water pooling on roads and localized flooding in low-lying areas.
Communities under the rainfall warning stretch from Macklin and Leader in the west to Rosetown and Elrose in the east, including the R.M.s of Kindersley, Progress, Snipe Lake, Chesterfield, Deer Forks, and Heart’s Hill, among many others.
“Significant rainfall can result in quickly rising waters and hazardous driving conditions,” Environment Canada said in its alert. “Localized flooding is possible, especially in areas with poor drainage.”
The warnings come as a low-pressure system pushes into the province from the U.S., bringing with it bands of moisture-laden air capable of delivering more than 80 mm of rain in isolated areas.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant, avoid driving through flooded areas, and monitor updates through official channels.
Rainfall warnings are issued when heavy rain is expected to pose a risk to public safety or cause environmental disruption. Residents are encouraged to report severe weather by emailing SKstorm@ec.gc.ca, calling 1-800-239-0484, or posting with the hashtag #SKStorm on X.
Environment Canada continues to monitor the evolving weather system and may update warnings as conditions change.