The snowpack melted approximately 16 centimetres in La Ronge during March. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

deep snow

Snowpack nearly twice as much in La Ronge compared to 30-year average

Apr 1, 2022 | 5:00 PM

The snowpack in La Ronge continues to be much higher than the 30-year average for this time of year.

That’s according to data provided by Climate Change and Environment Canada Meteorologist Terri Lang, which shows at the end of March the snowpack was at 48 centimetres. The 30-year average is 27 centimetres.

The snowpack remain high throughout central Saskatchewan with 67 cm in Buffalo Narrows with an average of 16 cm, Meadow Lake 45 cm (nine centimetres), Prince Albert 33 cm (seven centimetres) and Nipawin 33 cm (13 cm).

“La Ronge has a long way to go when it comes to the melting,” Lang said, noting the Water Security Agency (WSA) is monitoring the situation. “There’s so much snow still to melt and, even with the milder temperatures, there’s still a long way to go.”

The snow depth in La Ronge at the end of January was 56 cm and there was 64 cm of snowpack by the end of February. The snowpack melted approximately 16 cm last month.

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The seven-day forecast is calling for daytime highs above the freezing mark and nights that dip below 0 Celsius. Lang noted Environment Canada is currently tracking a weather system that will move through La Ronge tonight that could bring more snow.

“It’s the below-average temperatures that are slowing the melt,” she said. “We don’t want a rapid melt, but we do want the snow to go gradually. Over the next couple of weeks, we don’t see a big warm up coming, so it’s going to be a gradual melt.”

Friday is forecasted to reach a high of -3 C, while Saturday will reach 2 C and Sunday is 8 C. A mix of snow and rain is expected in La Ronge starting Monday.

As of the most recent WSA media release, runoff in the La Ronge area is predicted to be above normal, along with Buffalo Narrows and Southend. Communities such as Meadow Lake and Waskesiu are predicted to have a well above-normal runoff.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno