Water Security Agency keeping an eye on moisture as snow piles up

The snow made its comeback last week, and now it's coating the Southeast with around 30-40 centimeters worth of it in the area.

With that the moisture levels that we can expect after all that melts away have risen, changing up much of what was predicted for the southeast.

After the drought that hit the prairies last year that extra moisture would be much appreciated by ranchers and farmers heading into the growing season.

Manager of Communications Sean Osmar says that they're keeping a close eye on how that plays out in the southeast.

"What we saw initially when we were seeing that melt there a couple of weeks ago was a stronger than expected runoff which helps to replenish some of the reservoirs, and bring the water levels back up and help bring some of the moisture to the soil as well."

Depending on what kind of melt the southeast sees, that moisture could end up in fields where farmers need it or in rivers which could pose a flooding problem.

"This additional snow will continue to help that, particularly soil conditions. What we're watching for right now is just to see what kind of melt we get. If we get a slower melt, which will help the water stay in the soil," said Osmar, "Versus a more rapid melt where it runs off into the channels and streams and lakes."

The Water Security Agency will particularly be looking at the Souris River, as it was coated by the storm both here in the southeast and across southern Manitoba.

"Right now along the Souris River we're continuing to monitor it," said Osmar, "But as it stands right now we do have some additional capacity for storage, so we're able to absorb some of the snowfall that has come and we're waiting to see what kind of melt we'll get. As it stands right now, we think we're in pretty good shape here in the province."

More moisture is likely to join what's already here, between the snow forecasted for today and the system coming in on the weekend.