Keeseekoose First Nation, Cote First Nation under flash flood advisory due to heavy rain

Heavy rain throughout Saskatchewan has led to a flash flood advisory issued for a portion of eastern Saskatchewan on Tuesday.

Weeks of intense rainfall across Saskatchewan has put farmers in purgatory, balancing between receiving much-needed moisture and excessive, damaging amounts of water.

Bill Prybylski, president of Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, said the situation has varied widely across the province, with some areas benefiting from the rain, while others are being hit by flooding, crop loss and infrastructure damage.

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“The rain has actually been very beneficial. Pastures, hay crops, crop lands, they all need the rain,” Prybylski said. “But the problem is, in several areas of the province, the rain has become excessive.”

Prybylski, who also owns a farm west of Yorkton, added that in the hardest-hit regions, conditions have quickly turned destructive.

“There’s overland flooding, crops being drowned out, ridges, washouts in the fields, roads being washed out,” he said. “It’s been quite devastating.”

On his own farm near the Jedburgh area, Prybylski said the heavy rainfall has ranged from moderate to extreme.

“In the areas that got up to six inches, it was in a matter of just a few hours,” he said. “The runoff off the field obviously damaged some crops, washed away some of our topsoil, and has flooded several roads in the area.”

Prybylski said his first priority during the flooding was safety and livestock protection, but the emotional toll has been just as difficult as the physical damage.

“Just the helplessness, knowing that there’s really not much we can do,” he expressed. “Other than make sure that everybody is safe and just hope that the rain will let up.

“There’s a lot of emotional stress on producers, not knowing what’s going to happen (and) just the helplessness of not being able to control the weather.”

While not all crops are expected to be lost, Prybylski warns that yield reductions are likely significant in low-lying fields where water has pooled or remained standing.

“Lentils and peas do not do well under under high moisture conditions, so there’s quite a bit of damage there. I’ve (also) noticed some fields of canola that have kind of flipped into their reproductive stage, even though they haven’t really fully developed their their vegetative stage,” he said.

Prybylski explained crops have entered into survival mode due to the excess water levels.

Beyond crop losses, Prybylski said the financial impact from the intense weather is expected to be widespread and layered — including lower yields, delayed spraying, increased disease pressure, and higher equipment costs due to wet field conditions.

“The financial hit is going to be significant for producers, and it may not show up immediately, but it’s kind of an accumulative thing,” he said.

Prybylski added extra costs will come because of the strain on equipment, overworked sprayers and more fuel consumption. Looking ahead, he said the rest of the growing season will depend heavily on weather conditions, with delays already raising concerns about harvest timing and potential frost risks.

Although the conditions are unstable, Prybylski is hopeful that at least some product will be salvaged.

“We’re always optimistic, and history has shown that we will harvest something,” he said.

“How much, or how good a quality, remains to be seen.”

Heavy rainfall in Kamsack, flash flooding possible

Just after 2:40 p.m. on Tue, June 30, and overland flow flood advisory was issued for Keeseekoose First Nation, Cote First Nation and surrounding areas.

SaskAlert classified the advisory as a flash flood alert due to heavy rainfall in the area.

“Water is moving across the ground as it cannot soak in or drain away,” the alert stated. “Flooding is affecting highways and community roads, some impassable. Hazardous conditions may continue, creating dangerous situations for travelers and residents.”

The heavy rainfall in Kamsack near the Manitoba border on Tuesday morning had one area resident dumping out her rain gauge.

“It’s just coming down like crazy in sheets,” Dianne Kowalewich told CKOM News.

“A lot of roads have water sitting on them and people are driving through them … It’s just like through a lake,” she said.

Owen Myhr’s rain gauge in Crystal Lake, Sask. on June 29 (left) and 30 (right). He said more than 5.5 inches were recorded before a storm in the area on June 29, and another 3.5 inches of water was recorded in the following 24 hours. (Owen Myhr/Submitted)

Kowalewich said her rain gauge was about half an inch on Tuesday, and when she checked it on Tuesday morning, it had captured five inches of water overnight.

The Kamsack resident said she also has about an inch of water in her basement from the rainfall.

“I don’t want to go down there anymore,” she said. “I’ll just wait until it quits raining.”

SPSA provides flooding and wildfire update

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has responded to five flooding incidents this year, and the agency’s president, Marlo Pritchard, said while there has been an increase in regional flooding events, there have been no new requests for flooding assistance.

“We have seen increased precipitation in many areas, especially around central to east central Saskatchewan,” Pritchard said, noting the SPSA will be available to assist communities as help is needed.

The SPSA’s executive director of land operations, Bryan Chartrand, said the rain activity in southern Saskatchewan has been “favourable” in terms of wildfires.

So far this year, he said the majority of wildfires have been caused by lightning in the north.

SPSA data on Tuesday indicated there are currently 56 active wildfires in Saskatchewan, with 30 of those caused by lighting. As of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the SPSA reported that out of the active wildfires, seven are contained, three are not contained and 36 are ongoing assessment.

Pritchard said 41 fires have been started or reported within the last week.

“Saskatchewan has seen an increase in wildfires recently, but the long periods of rain this month – along with dedicated efforts of local communities and SPSA crews – have helped protect areas and keep damages to a minimum,” he shared.

Pritchard said the public safety agency is not currently aware of any evacuation orders due to wildfires, though several are affecting nearby communities with smoke.

“The SPSA is in communication with Peter Ballantyne, (Prince Albert Grand Council), and the communities of Sandy Bay, Southend, and Wollaston Lake,” Pritchard said, noting support will be provided if an evacuation is required.

According to the SPSA, 192 wildfires have been recorded so far this year, lower than both the five-year average of 222 wildfires and the 309 fires reported at the same time last year.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk