The Water Security Agency has updated its spring runoff forecast, with runoff well underway across most of southwestern and southern Saskatchewan.
Warmer daytime temperatures combined with freezing overnight conditions over the past month have resulted in a slow melt this spring.
Late March snowfalls brought 10 to 20 centimetres of snow from the Lloydminster area through Saskatoon and toward Yorkton, though the additional accumulation is not expected to significantly increase runoff.
Much of the runoff in snow-covered areas of southern and central Saskatchewan has seeped into the soil. With below-normal precipitation over the past month, runoff is expected to be near normal.
Reservoir levels at Lake Diefenbaker are more than one metre higher than average for this time of year due to limited drawdown and early runoff in the southern prairie region.
As part of its overwinter operations plan to retain water supplies, the agency expects to exceed the recreational target of 552 metres by May 15.