Areas along the Alberta foothills could receive more than 100 millimetres of rain early this week and that means more water will be flowing through the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers in the coming days.

It takes about five days for the water to reach Lake Diefenbaker. The Water Security Agency (WSA) says outflows from Lake Diefenbaker at Gardiner Dam will be increased in stages this week, starting on Monday.

The WSA says it is not clear at this time if it will need to use the Gardiner Dam spillway because water levels have been lower than normal in Lake Diefenbaker and there is storage available.  The Riverhurst Ferry has not yet been operational this year because the levels on Lake Diefenbaker are too low.

While widespread flooding in Saskatchewan is not predicted at this time, those in flood-prone areas should monitor the situation. The public should also exercise caution around fast-moving water. Significant rainfall has the potential to result in rapid changes in water levels.