Snowpacks in most of B.C. are sitting at or above average for this time of the year.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre said this week some parts of the province are experiencing an elevated risk for spring melt-related flooding, although with months of snow accumulation left to go, things can change.
The Okanagan (90%), Boundary (88%) and Similkameen (95%) river basins are reporting snowpacks slightly below normal. The Lower Thompson (122%), North Thompson (118%) and Middle Fraser (117%) basins are sitting at above normal for this time of year.
“Seasonal weather forecasts from late January by Environment and Climate Change Canada indicate an increased likelihood of colder than normal temperatures from February through April for the entire province,” the River Forecast Centre says.
Forecasts from the CPC indicate a likelihood (67% chance) of continued La Niña conditions (March-May 2022), with a potential transition to neutral conditions (51% likelihood) during spring 2022 (April-June).
La Niña occurs when oceanic temperature anomalies along the equatorial Pacific Ocean region are below normal for an extended period.
Historically, La Niña conditions create cooler temperatures for British Columbia and wetter weather in the South Coast and Vancouver Island during the winter months.
By early February, nearly two-thirds of the annual B.C. snow pack has typically accumulated.
“The provincial average for all snow measurements across the province is 110 per cent of normal and indicates a higher risk for snowmelt related flooding during the spring months (freshet), particularly for the Interior,” said the River Forecast Centre.
“With a few months left for snow accumulation, seasonal snow packs can still change significantly.”
