After several dry years and El Niño producing warm and dry winters across Canada, early findings in 2026 are showing Alberta's precipitation levels are bringing back needed moisture across all corners of the province.

The majority of the mountain snowpack sites surveyed are reporting snowpack levels above or well above normal. After three consecutive years of low early-season water supply forecasts, current conditions are the most favourable observed since early 2022.

"This is great news for our farmers, businesses, communities, and all Albertans who use and rely on water each and every day. We will continue closely monitoring our supply over the coming months and keep working to help build a more drought-resilient province.

"We are taking a whole-government approach to managing provincial water systems to make sure Albertans have a safe, reliable water supply. There have been plenty of challenges thrown at our farmers and ranchers over the past few years and, while growing conditions were better in 2025 for most of the province, localized weather events and other stressors put pressure on many producers. I'm optimistic that early moisture indicators paint a positive picture for the 2026 growing season."

February's water supply outlook shows promising conditions with river volumes expected to be greater than those seen in 2025 and in some cases, well above last year's volumes.

• The Milk River basin is currently forecasted to see normal river volumes.
• Above-normal river volumes are forecasted for the North Saskatchewan and Red Deer River basins.
• The Bow and Oldman River basins are forecasted to see river volumes ranging from normal to above normal.

February snow survey results show mountain snowpack conditions ranging from normal to significantly above normal. Water storage levels in major reservoirs across southern Alberta are in good shape. Total storage remains normal in the Oldman and South Saskatchewan River basins and above normal in the Bow River basin.

Alberta conducts mountain snowpack surveys monthly from Feb. 1 to June 1. From February through August, Alberta's government uses snowpack and precipitation information to create a water supply forecast for 20 locations in central and southern Alberta, ranging from the North Saskatchewan River Basin, south to the Milk River Basin.

This is promising start to the winter for Alberta communities when it comes to a stronger water supply and some needed snowpack. Alberta usually receives most of its moisture during March and April snowfalls and June rains.

Quick facts

• Basin-wide mountain snowpack averages are between 44 mm and 172 mm more snow-water equivalent than in February 2025.
• As of Feb. 18, there are 40 water management areas across Alberta that are in winter/frozen conditions and as a result have conditional water shortage advisories in place.
• Drought stage definitions in Alberta range from Stage 0 (no drought conditions) to Stage 5 (severe drought conditions).
• Drought stages for major river basins were last updated on Jan. 31:
  • Stage 1 - Sounding Creek basin, Athabasca River basin, Battle Creek basin, Beaver River basin
  • Stage 2 - Milk River basin, Oldman River basin, South Saskatchewan River basin, Bow River basin, Red Deer River basin, North Saskatchewan River basin, Peace River basin, Hay River basin
  • Stage 3 - Buffalo River basin, Great Slave Lake basin

Related information

• Water Supply Outlook - Feb. 2026