Latest news with #RiverForecastCentre
CBC
23-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Early snowmelt in B.C. points to elevated drought hazards
The B.C. River Forecast Centre says conditions in British Columbia points toward elevated drought hazards in the province. B.C.'s snowpack sits at 61 per cent of normal levels as of May 15, the centre wrote in its latest report, down from 71 per cent on May 1. Those lower levels are a reflection of the fact that snow is melting earlier than normal, the report said, primarily because April was warmer than normal. Thirty-six per cent of B.C.'s snowpack had melted by May 15, the report said. In a typical year, 21 per cent of the seasonal snowpack has melted by mid-May. Darius Mahdavi, CBC's science specialist, said early snowmelt can lead to less snow to feed reservoirs later in the season. "The snow is sort of like a backup for the rain," Mahdavi said. "If we don't get rain, but we still have snowpack melting it sort of can compensate for that a bit. If we don't have the snowpack, there's no backup." The centre said there is no elevated flood hazard given current snowpack levels, but higher flows are possible if there is heavy rainfall. A provincial drought monitoring survey issued Thursday said cooler and wetter weather over the past week has improved drought conditions and boosted streamflows, especially in the province's southern coastal areas, but said rises in streamflow due to snowmelt can mask drought conditions. "Streamflows may decline quickly once snowpack has fully melted if significant rainfall does not occur," the survey said. Mahdavi says drought conditions in the northeastern corner of B.C. are the most worrying, with the basins at Fort Nelson and North Peace at drought Level 3 and the East Peace basin at Level 4 on a scale that ranges from zero to five. The survey paints a slightly more optimistic picture for western B.C., Mahdavi says, with drought conditions improving in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii.
Global News
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Low snowpack heading into summer, concerns about drought in Okanagan
Creeks are strong now, but after a warm April, the Okanagan's early snowmelt could lead to problems come summer. Smaller creeks might be at risk of running dry this summer, experts predict. 'Looking at natural systems, smaller creeks, there is going to be the potential that they'll get into the lower flow or lower than the critical environmental flow needs for rivers and even some of the smaller creeks have the potential to run dry,' said Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist with the River Forecast Centre. According to the May snowpack bulletin, provincially, the snowpack has dropped from 79 per cent to 71 per cent of normal since April, with the Southern Interior seeing the sharpest declines. Snowpack levels in the Okanagan, in particular, have dropped from 82 per cent to just 67 per cent of normal. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While no major heat waves are expected in the coming weeks, experts are holding out hope that the remaining snow will hold up. Story continues below advertisement 'The ideal situation moving forward is cooler, wetter conditions in May and June,' Boyd said. In Mission Creek, the Casorso Road underpass was closed this week due to high waters, a fairly routine closure caused by the region's fluctuating water levels. 'It's just due to the freeboard available there,' said Brittany Seibert, a regional emergency manager. As water concerns continue, emergency officials are already shifting their focus to the upcoming wildfire season. With the potential for drought, Seibert warns that the region could face another intense fire season. 'It all depends on what happens in the next few weeks with rain, snowpack and prolonged dry periods,' she said. For residents, now is the time to prepare. 'It's important to do FireSmart work in your yard and have emergency plans in place, including a grab-and-go bag,' Seibert advised.
CBC
09-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Low snowpack, early snowmelt, warm weather in forecast point to higher B.C. drought risk, says forecaster
Social Sharing The B.C. River Forecast Centre says a combination of a low snowpack, early snowmelt and forecasts of warm weather are pointing toward elevated drought hazards in the province. The province's snowpack sits at 71 per cent of normal levels as of May 1, the centre wrote in its latest monthly report, down from 79 per cent on April 1. The centre notes levels were "extremely low" last May, with the average across B.C. at 66 per cent of normal. Snowmelt is happening earlier than usual, the reports says, with 15 per cent of the peak total snowpack at automated stations melting by May 1. In a typical year, five per cent of the snowpack has melted by early May. Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist for the river forecast centre, says there are drought concerns due in part to long-term precipitation deficits that date back to 2022. He says spring weather will be a factor in summer drought conditions. "April wasn't great, but more important is what happens in May and June, and it's still a little bit too early to know for sure," he said, adding that seasonal forecasts from Environment Canada indicate warmer-than-normal temperatures from May to July. The snowpack in most regions of B.C. ranges from 60 to 80 per cent of normal, the report says, while a snowpack below 60 per cent was measured for the Upper Fraser West, Lower Thompson, Nicola, Bridge, Skagit, Central Coast, Similkameen, and Skeena-Nass regions. The report noted that temperatures in B.C. ranged from 0.5 C to 2.5 C warmer than usual last month, while precipitation was below normal or slightly below normal. The centre says there isn't an elevated risk of floods given current snowpack levels, but higher flows are possible if there is heavy spring rainfall. The B.C. Wildfire Service's summer forecast expects higher than usual temperatures into spring, with the possibility of above-average precipitation over coastal and central B.C. The service said precipitation in May and June, typically the rainiest months in B.C.'s Interior, "will influence the length and intensity of the core wildfire season." Boyd said that while there are concerns about the amount of snowmelt, it's still early in the season, and conditions can change.
