After examining and measuring the mountain snow pack and local river flows for the past week, Alberta Environment and Parks says everything is looking pretty average.

AEP constantly monitors the snowpack throughout the winter and spring, helping River Forecasters predict ice break up, run off, or flood events.

River Forecast Engineer Colleen Walford says when it comes to our rivers they're looking as they should this time of year.

"I took a look at the flows on Three Point Creek and Sheep River, they are almost bang on average for this time of year," she says. "The snow melt is essentially complete in the Three Point Creek Basin, and the Sheep is more than halfway complete, based on the current Environment Canada model we have."

Walford shares while the snowpack in the mountains does affect the severity of flooding, it generally wont cause it.

"Compared to 2013 this year we're about 8 mm less, that doesn't tell the whole story though. 2012 and 2014 both had higher snowpacks in April than 2013 did, 2012 was about 160 mm more, and 2014 was only about 40 mm more. Really what that means is the biggest drivers for flow in those basins are the rains that come in June."

Although everything is looking average for this time of year, Walford explains predictions can change quickly throughout the next few months.

"Really the story is going to be what kind of low pressure systems we'll get that'll bring rain, and we need to wait and see what the snowpack actually is in June."

Alberta Environment and Parks does recommend residents near rivers download their River Advisory App, which lets users see all of the current data for the province, along with push notifications for advisories.

Snowpack accumulation still has another month to go, reaching its maximums in May, before the big melt begins.

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