Warm April decimates snowpacks across B.C.

NORTH AND SOUTH THOMPSON THE ONLY REGIONS WITH NORMAL SNOW LEVELS

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Snowpack levels are plunging across the province, bringing the province to record lows, the result of April’s warm weather and record-breaking heat wave.

The most recent bulletin from the B.C. River Forecast Centre says the province is averaging a record 53 per cent of normal snow pack levels, dropping 38 per cent since April 1.

Of the 183 snow survey measurements, 33 had record low snowpack measurements, with some breaking records dating back as far as 50 years.

Much variability continues in different parts of the province though, with the north and parts of the Cariboo, Central Coast, Skagit, East Kootenay and Similkameen regions below 50 per cent.

Snowpacks in the Okanagan, Boundary, West Kootenay, Peace, Nechako, Vancouver Island, Lower Fraser and Upper Columbia regions are between 60 and 75 per cent of normal.

Only the North and South Thompson regions currently enjoy normal snow packs of roughly 100 per cent.

Precipitation levels were well below normal in the southern part of the province during April, ranging from just 20 to 50 per cent of normal.

As a result spring run-off is roughly three to four weeks ahead of normal and have already, or are reaching, freshet peak, the bulletin notes.

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