Red Deer River Basin - Water Supply Forecasts

Natural runoff volumes for the March 1 to September 30, 2003 period are forecast to be average to above-average for the Red Deer River basin, ranging from 100 to 108% of average (Table 5a). The current forecasts are lower than last month's forecasts by 13 to 16% due to very little precipitation and runoff during July. The current forecasted volumes for the March to September 2003 period for the Red Deer River basin are nearly double the volumes recorded over the same time period last year and in 2001. Current forecasted volumes would rank 35th highest in 84-years of record (1912-95) at Red Deer.

The first five months of the forecast period have been completed, with March-July 2003 recorded runoff volumes ranging from 105 to 115% of average. The remaining volume forecast, which is the March through September 2003 forecast minus the recorded volume to date, is available in Table 5b.