How much of a threat are wildfires in southeastern Saskatchewan?

Some southeast farmers haven't started seeding yet, and some are navigating around water in the fields. But the excess moisture in the region is keeping the threat of wildfires at bay.

The Saskatchewan Spatial Fire Management System's Fire Weather Index (FWI) categorizes southeastern Saskatchewan as being in either 'low' or 'moderate' on its Daily Fire Danger Map.

The most-southern strip of land in the province - from central Saskatchewan east to the Manitoba border - is at low risk. The rest of the southeast is at moderate risk, as you can see on the province's map for May 9:

Estevan, Bienfait, Alameda, Oxbow, Lampman, and Carnduff are some of the communities in the low-risk zone. Arcola, Carlyle, and Redvers are in the moderate-risk area.

As of Tuesday morning, Environment Canada's forecast calls for a 30-per-cent chance of showers Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons along with a risk of thunderstorms. There is no precipitation forecast the rest of the week.

There are 20 active wildfires in the province. Thirteen are contained, three are in 'ongoing assessment' and four are not contained.

There are widespread fire bans in the northwest of the province, but none listed by the province in the southeast. You can find the latest map of fire bans here.