Plains Snowpack

Sixty-five snow course measurements were taken in plains areas of Alberta at the end of March (Figure 1). Most snow measurements indicate above-average to much-above-average snowpack in the Fort Chipewyan area and also in a band extending from the Peace River area to Slave Lake, on through the area between Athabasca, Edmonton, Cold Lake and Lloydminster. Areas west of Edmonton, the Lesser Slave Lake, and the Peace River region generally have below-average to average snowpack. Little to no snow remains in most areas of the province south of Edmonton and Lloydminster. Snow course measurements in the High Level area are average.

Satellite estimation of plains snowpack as of April 1, 2004 is available in Figure 2. In the Fort McMurray area, snowpack is estimated to be average. A small amount of snow, less than 10 millimetres of snow water equivalent, is indicated in the Cypress Hills. Weekly updates to the satellite map are available on the Meteorological Survey of Canada website .