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A drone photograph of the extensive flooding that closed Highway 5 west of Buchanan. (Image Credit: Colin Pas/Facebook)
Spring melt

VIDEO: Floodwaters and washouts keep many Saskatchewan highways closed

May 3, 2026 | 1:27 PM

Spring melt water flow continued to close highways and destroy roads in Saskatchewan on Sunday, with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) assisting in 16 active flooding locations.

Environment Canada is now forecasting only showers or flurries in the flood-hit areas on Sunday night and fine and cooler weather next week, which should help as the cleanup begins.

The RM of Shellbrook formally declared a local emergency due to rapidly increasing runoff from snowmelt, which is placing significant strain on municipal infrastructure and resident access according to a post by the RM.

“This declaration enables us to access additional resources and support as response efforts continue,” the post read, while adding the RM is seeking assistance from contractors who may have equipment or availability to support ongoing response operations.

On Sunday, the RM reported that water is flowing over several municipal roads and strongly encouraged impacted residents to move to an alternate location, if possible, as access may become impassable.

Flooding has become a regular part of spring for Sandy Lowndes, a farmer in the Kelvington area.

“It’s yearly — we get flooded out every year,” she said, adding that it keeps getting worse.

“There is more flooding than there used to be. The water is coming too fast and in too big a quantity.”

Lowndes said damage to roads from flooding has one of the biggest immediate impacts, but municipal crews are constantly working to keep roads usable..

“If they don’t get washed out completely, the roads get a lot of surface and the gravel washed out. The RM has to come in and either go into the ditches to collect the gravel or do some repairs.”

Flooding near Kelvington, east of Saskatoon, on May 2, 2026.
Flooding near Kelvington, east of Saskatoon, on May 2, 2026. (Image Credit: Submitted/Sandy Lowndes)

What roads are closed by flooding?

Saskatchewan’s Highway Hotline said on Sunday that water over the road meant Highway 5 remains closed in both directions just west of Watson and just east of Highway 310, while in Buchanan it is also still closed near 1st Ave W. Water over the road has closed all southbound lanes on nearby Highway 47, two kilometres south of Highway 5.

In Foam Lake, washouts have closed Highway 310 6.5 kilometres south of  Highway 16; Highway 9 is closed two kilometres north of Canora; and near Kamsack, water over the road has closed Highway 357 from 1.5 kilometres east of Highway 8 to the Assiniboine River Bridge.

Near Armley, Highway 335 is closed four kilometres west of Highway 35, while in Carrot River, Birch Road is closed 13 km east of  Highway 23.

At Wakaw flooding has closed Regional Park Road east of Highway 2 and water over the road on Railway Ave in Brancepeth has closed all lanes. Near Nipawin, floodwaters have also closed Birch Road in both directions 13 kilometres east of Highway 23. Highway 25 four kilometres east of St. Louis. is closed.

In the far north, Hwy 918 is experiencing flooding in several spots north of Hwy 165 restricting residents in communities like Patuanak.
In the far north, Hwy 918 is experiencing flooding in several spots north of Hwy 165 restricting residents in communities like Patuanak. (Image Credit: Submitted/Karen Laliberte)

In Northern Saskatchewan, floodwaters have washed out Highway 903 80 km north of Highway 965, while in the Beauval area, Highway 918 has been closed at several points — 17 km, 29 km and 40 km north of Highway 165.

A culvert washed out between Beauval and the Beauval Commercial Junction (Forks of Hwy 165 and Hwy 155) and urgent repairs were needed to stop the water eroding the road below the asphalt. A Facebook post from Beauval’s Emergency Operations Committee said the Department of Highways was on the job replacing it the following afternoon.

RM of Lake Lenore declared a local state of emergency over flooding and road washout outs on Saturday, with RM Administrator Debra Parry saying Grid 777 east of Lake Lenore is no longer accessible, and there are numerous other roads in the RM that are closed.

The Town of Arborfield, northeast of Saskatoon has also declared a local emergency.

— with files from 980 CJME’s Jacob Bamhour and DiscoverHumboldt