Snowpack levels in Southern Interior not adding to flooding concerns

February’s cold weather kept the Southern Interior’s snowpack levels in check last month.

The latest snowpack data from the B.C. River Forecast Centre, released today, March 8, shows the cold temperatures in February and early March limited snow accumulations at upper elevations, in some cases dropping basin levels by five to 15 per cent when compared to measurements from Feb. 1.

The River Forecast Centre reports no elevated flood risk based on the current snowpack levels in the province, but says the seasonal snowpack can still change significantly with two more months of possible accumulation. Depending on the weather during freshet, flooding is still possible, even with near normal snowpacks.

As of March 1, the North Thompson snow basin was at 100 per cent of normal, while the South Thompson and Okanagan were at 83 and 81 per cent respectively. The Nicola also stands at 81 per cent of normal, while the Similkameen is only at 72 per cent of normal.

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