B.C. snowpack trending low raising drought concerns

B.C.'s latest Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin shows dry January and February weather has driven the average provincial snow pack levels lower than earlier expectations.

The current provincial snowpack level now sits at 73 per cent of a normal year, while in January, snowpack levels were close to normal, at 87 per cent.

Forecasters say it is raising concerns of continued drought conditions through 2025.

"Low snowpack and seasonal runoff forecasts combined with warm seasonal weather forecasts and lingering impacts from ongoing drought are pointing toward elevated drought hazards for this upcoming spring and summer," said the B.C. River Forecast Centre in its report.

The risk is greatest in the Similkameen, Central Coast, Bridge, Chilcotin, Nechako and Skagit districts.

The Chilcotin is the driest region in the province this winter, receiving just 16 per cent of normal snowfall.

The Liard district is the wettest, tracking at 98 per cent of a normal snowfall year.

It's welcome moisture for the northeast region, which was hit by severe wildfires last summer, and where so-called "zombie fires" or "overwintering fires" continue to smoulder underground and send smoke into the air. 

Conditions in the Similkameen and East and West Kootenays have improved slightly from February's reports, with the regions adding one to three per cent to the average snowpack levels. 

The Lower Thompson sub-basin, within the Fraser River district, reported the largest month-over-month snowpack increase with levels increasing from 42 per cent to 87 per cent of an average year. 

Overall, the snowpack is higher than this time last year,  when the average of all snow stations in British Columbia was lower at 66 per cent of normal.

Forecasters say, so far, that isn't enough snow to trigger freshet concerns.  A below normal spring flood hazard is expected.

There are still four to eight weeks left in the snow accumulation season, especially in the higher elevations and mountains, when typically some 20 per cent of the season's snow falls.

WATCH | February snowpack report showed similar levels: 

Provincial data shows B.C.'s snowpack at about 72% of normal

28 days ago

Duration 1:54

A drier-than-normal January has translated to a below-average snowpack in February. New data from the province shows B.C.'s snowpack is about 72 percent of normal. As Michelle Gomez reports, experts say it raises the prospect of drought if precipitation doesn't increase.

"Precipitation, which is more difficult than temperature to predict at a seasonal scale, is showing a greater likelihood of above normal precipitation for March through May 2025 for areas on north Vancouver Island, the Central Coast, Omineca, and Peace," the report notes. "The rest of the province is not showing a statistical trend in the forecast."

Environment and Climate Change Canada released a seasonal weather outlook in late February, forecasting a greater likelihood of above-normal temperatures for B.C. from March through May.