Plains Snowpack

Sixty-five snow course measurements were taken in plains areas of Alberta at the end of March. Snow measurements indicate above-normal to much-above-normal snowpack in the Peace River, Grande Prairie, Slave Lake, Edmonton and Red Deer regions (Figure 1). Snowpack is much-below-normal to normal along the foothills in the Rocky Mountain House, Edson and Whitecourt regions, and in the Coronation and Lloydminster regions, as spring snowmelt is well underway in these areas. Snowpack in the High Level, Fort Chipewyan, and Cold Lake regions improved significantly because of much-above-normal snowfall in March. Snowpack is below-normal in the Fort McMurray area. Most snow in areas south of Red Deer melted in March.

Satellite estimation of snow water equivalent and snow depth as of April 1, 2003 is available in Figure 2, courtesy of the Meteorological Service of Canada. Weekly updates are available at: http://www.socc.ca/snow/snow_current_e.cfm