Water experts say it’s too soon to predict if Alberta facing more flooding

CALGARY – A long and snowy winter doesn’t necessarily mean flooding on the same level as what occurred in southern Alberta in 2013.

Alberta Environment says a measurement on March 1 showed the snowpack was only slightly above normal compared with last year.

Department spokeswoman Carrie Sancartier says four areas have received a record amount of snow, but they are in the North Saskatchewan basin so won’t have an impact on southern Alberta.

She says severe flooding in Calgary and High River last June was more a result of heavy rainfall than snowpack.

Sancartier says the key is a slow melt before the rainy period begins in mid-May.

She says there was a near-record snowpack in southern Alberta two years ago but flooding was not a problem.