Most of the north is expected to receive some rain over the next three days and the Water Security Agency says its latest Northern Saskatchewan Summer High Water update is predicting 30 to 60 millimetres of rain in the next 48 hours in the area from Lake Athabasca southeast to Reindeer Lake. The remainder oft he north is expected to receive between 5 and 20 millimetres.

Over the weekend, rainfall in the Churchill Basin ranged from 7 mm in the southeastern portion to 84 mm in the Key Lake area. Patuanak area received upwards of 77 mm. The La Ronge area received between 35 to 56 mm and the eastern portion of Reindeer Lake received 35 mm. Portions of the Lake Athabasca Basin received between 60 to 98 mm of precipitation over the weekend

Specific conditions and future level peaks:

Ile a la Crosse:
Present elevation: 421.18 m

Due to precipitation received over the weekend, levels at Lac Ile a la Crosse have increased to a new peak elevation. With no significant rain in the forecast for the area, levels are expected to drop slightly, but remain high for some time.

Lac La Ronge:
Current elevation: 364.93 m
Projected peak: 364.95 m on or near August 17, 2020

With the rain received over the weekend, levels have risen steadily and are expected to continue to increase for the next week. Our current forecast has the lake peaking just shy of the 2011 peak.

Sandy Bay
Present Elevation: 9.8 m (2270 m3/s)
Observed peak: 10.14 m (2400 m3/s) on August 4

Water levels at Sandy Bay reached a peak on August 4 and are now down about 0.34 m. Flows and levels are expected to climb slightly over the next week, then remain relatively steady for the next three weeks.

Meeting Lake

With warm and drier conditions, levels at Meeting Lake are still decreasing

August 6, 2020 lake level was 739.47 m

Outlet spill elevation is 739.23 m

Meeting Lake has reached its outlet and is confirmed flowing into outlet channel

There is not significant flow moving through outlet currently as it is congested with thick vegetation.

Berms around the lake should now be built to WSA recommended standard (739.83-740 m)

Cumberland House

Cumberland Lake has peaked and is receding.

Jan, Amisk, and Deschambault Lakes

Jan Lake peaked in late July, 54 mm above 2017 levels.

While the WSA does not have any current information for Deschambault or Amisk Lake, with the Sturgeon Weir River at Leaf Rapids continuing to climb, these lakes are likely not yet at peak. The WSA says Like Jan Lake, peaks that are slightly above 2017 levels are expected at these locations unless significant, additional precipitation is observed.