With record levels of snowpack in much of the Yukon, it’s now in the hands of Mother Nature as to whether the territory will receive more flooding on a par with last year’s deluge.

Results from the territorial government’s Apr. 1 Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast show that the snowpack throughout the Yukon is well above average.

According to the survey, eight of 11 monitored basins have the highest basin snowpack estimates ever recorded.

The remaining three basins have well above average snowpack.

A record-setting snowpack in many watersheds in the territory increases the potential for flooding during river ice breakup and spring snowmelt, states a news release put out late this morning.

Reached after it was issued, Holly Goulding, the territory’s chief hydrologist, told the Star that the last two or three weeks of warmish daytime highs and clear weather are ideal for handling the accumulated snow, but still haven’t put much of a dent into the snowpack.

“There’s definitely a greater risk for flooding,” Goulding said. “The weather in the next few weeks will be critical.”

She said we need more of that kind of weather, or slightly warmer, for more significant but gradual snowmelt, to occur.

Goulding said she’s hoping the trend will continue, without any suddenly warm or hot weather to complicate matters.

The next snowpack survey will be released May 1, and Goulding said she’s confident that snowpack will likely be beyond normal then as well.

In the Southern Lakes, the snowpack is concentrated in the low-lying areas, but there is broad distribution everywhere.

“There’s a lot of snow out there,” Goulding said.

“While snowpack is one risk factor for flooding during the spring breakup and snowmelt period, spring weather is also critical,” the news release stated.

“The timing and progression of snowmelt and precipitation events are important drivers of flooding regardless of snowpack levels.”

Every March, April and May, the government conducts Yukon-wide snow surveys to help forecast water levels and flow conditions across the Yukon.

The Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecasts provide a summary of winter meteorological and hydrological conditions for major Yukon watersheds.

The bulletin provides long-term snowpack averages, monthly data, and current snow depth and snow water equivalent observations for 52 locations in the Yukon, and five locations in the neighbouring areas of British Columbia and Alaska.

The April 1 snow survey typically represents peak snowpack in most parts of the territory.